Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Thursday pledged greater efforts to safeguard world peace at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

The Chinese military is willing to work with all parties to uphold security with concrete actions, enhance military mutual trust, step up multilateral coordination, and promote high-quality and efficient cooperation while improving related mechanisms, so as to make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and building a community with a shared future for humanity, Dong said. 

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Dong emphasized the need to uphold a correct view on World War II, safeguard historical justice and foster the widest possible consensus.

The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to defend sovereign equality, uphold the post-war international order, bolster multilateralism, protect common interests and jointly advance reforms to improve the global governance system, he said.

When addressing the Taiwan question, Dong said that Taiwan's return to China is an important component of the post-war international order. He added that the historical and legal facts that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China are beyond doubt.

The Chinese military has always been an invincible and powerful force in safeguarding national unity, and will never allow any schemes for "Taiwan independence" to succeed, Dong said, adding that the Chinese military is prepared at all times to thwart any external military intervention.

Noting that Thursday marks the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, Dong called on all countries to grasp the laws of history and steadfastly uphold the correct path forward. 

Looking to the future, all countries should work together to redirect the countercurrent of anti-globalization back into the mainstream of global solidarity and mutual support, Dong said.

Themed "Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development," the forum pools together more than 1,800 official representatives, scholars and observers from over 100 countries, regions and international organizations. It runs from Wednesday to Friday.

(Cover: The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held in Beijing, China, from September 17 to 19, 2025. /VCG)