At the Shanghai Forum in Beijing in September, four pairs of "the world's least dealt with" wrongdoers simultaneously appeared, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, China and the United States, and one did not fall, all appeared.
But this is not a diplomatic tea party, but more like an international version of a "family meeting". The emotions and topics are sensitive, but no one chooses to leave.
Looking around the world, China is really the only one that can invite these "bitter enemies" under the same roof and let them have a "heart-to-heart" quarrel face to face.
On the surface, it is the confrontation of "you and I," in fact, China has put on a table that others can't stand, but also supports a table that others can't stand.
Why just Beijing?
If international relations are an endless struggle, then this year’s Shandong Forum is an unprecedented “centralized confrontation.”
Let's talk about Russia and Ukraine first. Since the conflict broke out in 2022, the two have "never communicated with each other" in almost all public occasions, which is rare even in the frame.
At the Xiangshan Forum in 2023, although the two sides attended in a low-key manner, they did not even make eye contact. This year, they sat at the same table for the first time and confronted each other tit-for-tat on the issue of "sovereignty and security", which shows that China's invitation is not light.
Looking back at India, this is uncommon for the neighbors for decades, especially the issue of Kashmir, which does not feel normal any year.
But this time, Indian and Pakistani representatives both accepted the invitation of China, came together to Beijing, difficultly "peaceful coexistence" for a few days, although still not speculative, but at least did not black each other.
The most surprising is Pakistan, where the Gaza conflict resumed in 2023, the Cairo negotiations broke in 2024 and the relations fell to the ice, but this time Beijing became the “third party” they were willing to try dialogue, even with anger and questioning, at least yet.
And China and the United States on the "complex relationship" not to mention, from the Taiwan Sea to the South China Sea, from the chip to AI, there is almost no problem that does not collide.
Even so, the United States still sent a deputy defense minister-level figure to attend, saying that it was willing to have a frank dialogue with China in the Asia-Pacific security field. It sounded calm, but in fact there was a "realistic cognition" behind it that had to come.
The question is, why Beijing?
It's not that there are no other platforms. The Munich Security Conference, the Western-led G7 Summit, and the Davos Forum are all lively. Unfortunately, "selective invitation" has become the default setting.
Whoever is a "good friend" is qualified to speak, and who is labeled as a "problem country" doesn't even have an admission ticket. This kind of meeting is more like an "acquaintance bureau", and it is difficult to have real negotiations.
In contrast, in 2023 there will be more than 90 countries and more than 500 representatives, this year the scale is bigger and the topic is more sensitive.
But China has no threshold, no labels, whoever wants to come, whoever has a microphone, this "non-provoking" gesture, only let those countries who did not want to join each other will be willing to break the example.
China's policy of neutrality and non-alliance is the backbone of this "wrong family gathering", not whose backdrop, nor whose counterpart, neither to accuse nor to divide.
Some say that China is like a “neutral judge”, but more accurately, China is a “host” that gives everyone a space to express and an opportunity to be heard.
The fiercer the quarrel, the more hopeful it is?
In recent years, international conferences have mostly spoken of the "sens of dimension", but the Shandong Forum is the "true nature", which does not mean failure, but rather explains that the issue is finally on the table.
For example, Russia and Ukraine, the two sides have played up to now, the Ukrainian side accuses Russia of "violating international law", while the Russian side believes that "NATO expansion to the east is the root", both of you come to me.
Let's talk about Palestine and Israel. The point of dispute between the two sides is that Israel mainly accuses Hamas of "abusing civilians as shields", while Palestine believes that Israel "implements an apartheid policy."
Meanwhile, China and the United States have more controversial points, such as the U.S. side often shoots the "freedom of navigation" flag provocation.
For the sake of "harmonious atmosphere", many international conferences simply avoid sensitive issues and fool them with some content of "common concern". However, Xiangshan Forum is unique, and it doesn't shy away from it.
A quarrel is not a bad thing, instead, it is a sign that each other begins to face the problem, you say your "red line", I say my "bottom line", although temporarily impossible to shake hands and talk, but at least know what the other party is thinking, afraid of what, what to want.
Compared with not saying a word and playing tricks behind your back, this way of "quarreling out" face to face is healthier and more real.
The Shandong Forum has given these contradictions an exit, not to resolve immediately, but to avoid accumulating into greater risks, where they can argue, it is possible to negotiate; where nothing can be said, is despair.
Why can Beijing support this venue?
It's not easy for four pairs of enemies to share the same stage, and it's even more difficult for them to sit down and talk after quarreling, and Beijing just did it.
This is not a coincidence, let alone by a meeting, that China can become such a “dialogue platform”, relying on long-term accumulation and practical action.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran achieved a historic reconciliation in Beijing, which shocked the global diplomatic circle. At that time, the two countries almost went from breaking off diplomatic relations to shaking hands, and the driver behind it was the Chinese team.
In 2024, amid the complex situation in Myanmar, China has also organized multiple dialogues to urge a ceasefire; The peacekeeping missions in Africa and China have lasted for many years, and the number of people sent ranks among the top in the world.
These are not "propaganda paintings", but real diplomatic recordings, China does not engage in "export model", nor does it engage in "hegemonic gestures", nor does it take the power of speech to trade.
Others are busy forming alliances and helping people, but China insists on the basic principle of "everyone has a say". More than 100 countries around the world support China's "global security initiative", not because they shout loud slogans, but because China won trust in action.
The design of the forum is also thorough, does not force consensus, does not require signing an agreement, does not engage in "unified statements", but as soon as you come, someone will listen to you; you want to talk, there is room for closed-door talks.
China also provides visa facilitation, security, and translation services for delegates attending the meeting, and even food is taken care of as much as possible.
The western media also have to admit that China really wants everyone to "speak open" by holding the forum without superficial efforts. It can be said that Xiangshan Forum is "one of the few platforms that allow the opposite parties to really communicate".
China's attraction, in the final analysis, comes from a "diplomatic determination" that is non-aligned, non-kidnapping and has no premise. This determination is both a responsibility and a rare ability.
After the fight, a new beginning.
On the last day of the forum, representatives from all sides have not reached any substantive agreement, and no one expects this time to immediately resolve the war and reverse the situation.
But the scene is filled with a subtle atmosphere, the quarrel is over, everyone is still, this is the meaning of the Shandong Forum, it is not a show, nor a deal, but a real international communication experiment.
On the one hand, let contradictions be put naked on the table; on the other hand, it leaves a place for every voice in a "big country impartiality" way.
There is no shortage of a stage in this world, there is no shortage of a stage that can accommodate differences; there is no shortage of dialogue, there is no shortage of a platform for dialogue that dares to face conflict.
As for "why only China can do this", in fact, the answer has long been written on China's diplomatic path for decades. It doesn't choose sides, draw circles, and set premises. It's time to quarrel and talk when it's time to talk.