"Frontline Observation: Why Do Foreign Soldiers Speak Fluent Chinese at the Xiangshan Forum?"

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Guo Yuandan] "You are here too!" Two foreign soldiers dressed in different uniforms shook hands tightly outside the venue of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, communicating fluently in Chinese. One is from Laos and the other from Myanmar. According to the reporter from the Global Times, the two soldiers from different countries had not seen each other for three years.

The 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened on the 16th at the Beijing International Conference Center. The theme of this forum is "Building Consensus for Stability and Promoting Security Governance Together," with about 2,000 guests, including official representatives, experts, scholars, and observers from more than 100 countries, regions, and international organizations in attendance. Judging by the attire of the attendees, the nationalities of the participating representatives span five continents, with an increasing proportion of representatives from small and medium-sized countries and developing nations.

Gerardo from Uruguay came with the purpose of exchanging ideas with colleagues from various countries. He said, "We maintain an open attitude and hope to exchange different viewpoints with all parties; this is our main goal for participating in this forum."

The several badges worn on Gerardo's right chest caught the reporter's attention, among which two had Chinese characters: one red badge read "Nanjing Artillery Academy," and the other, a more eye-catching green shield-shaped badge, featured a pentagram with the words "August 1" and an ear of wheat, inscribed with "Chinese People's Liberation Army Institutions." Gerardo studied command courses at the National Defense University in 2014 and spent six months in China, saying, "That was a truly wonderful experience."

If Gerardo came with fond memories of China, then Ding Nuo Xihala from Laos was reuniting with a foreign "football friend" at the forum.

During a break in the meeting, soldiers from various countries were freely conversing outside the venue when Xihala was suddenly called by a young soldier in foreign military attire. The two were pleasantly surprised to shake hands, greet each other, and converse in fluent Chinese.

The reporter "eavesdropped" for a while and discovered that the two were alumni, both having studied at the National University of Defense Technology, with Xihala being the senior and Su Wei from Myanmar being the junior. When Su Wei enrolled, Xihala was about to graduate, but both enjoyed playing football, which forged a deep friendship on the field.

Xihala is attending the forum as a liaison officer for the official delegation from Laos, while Su Wei is still a student, participating as an observer to learn and "gain insights." Their educational experiences in China not only brought the two young men closer but also increased their understanding and trust of each other's countries. Although they come from different nationalities and distant places, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has become a gathering place for them to transcend borders and continue their friendship as classmates.

Su Wei developed an interest in China at the age of eight or nine after watching Jackie Chan's "The Myth." "At that time, I really wanted to come to China," he said, "I like Chinese martial arts dramas and tea culture."

As a first-time participant in the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Su Wei felt it was "pragmatic" and "high-density." "Pragmatic means the forum is beneficial for solving some practical problems." He stated that solving all issues takes time; it cannot be said that discussions today will be realized tomorrow, but here everyone can sit down and communicate. The "high-density" aspect refers to the forum's agenda, which he found very fulfilling, with four plenary sessions and eight parallel thematic discussions set at a tight pace.

As a young officer participating in such a high-level international security forum, Su Wei has greatly benefited. He told the reporter that he strongly agrees with the idea that "dialogue between countries is very important," having heard experts' exchanges during the "high-end dialogue" session yesterday. Only by increasing communication and building trust can there be a foundation for sitting down to talk.

As a soldier, Su Wei hopes for an increasingly peaceful world. When asked about his deepest impression of China, he said that living in China feels very "safe," and that "safety" and "peace" align with the purpose of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. The reporter from the Global Times felt that the forum provided countries with a platform for mutual communication and trust-building, allowing dialogue to dispel misunderstandings, and fostering consensus through exchange, jointly exploring peaceful paths to maintain global security.