Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said Friday that "negotiation" is the only solution to conflicts in the world, calling on major powers to take the lead in protecting global security.

"To resolve hotspot issues such as the crisis in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, promoting peace and negotiation is the only way," Dong said at the opening ceremony of the Xiangshan Forum, an international forum bringing together military officials in Beijing.

He also urged opposition to the "spreading of national security concepts" to ensure that "new technologies better benefit all of humanity," a possible reference to US efforts to block Beijing's access to advanced technologies.

Protecting global security

The Chinese minister called on major countries to take the initiative in protecting global security, abandon the zero-sum mentality and refrain from intimidating small and weak countries.

He added that in a multipolar world, "countries, whether large or small, developed or developing, should have equal right to participate in international affairs, express their needs and defend their legitimate rights and interests."

Xiangshan Forum

Dozens of delegates are attending the Xiangshan Forum in the Chinese capital, which is Beijing's answer to the annual Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore.

The Chinese forum is scheduled to host more than 500 representatives from more than 90 countries and organizations over three days, according to state media.

Michael Chase, the US deputy assistant secretary of defense, is participating in the forum, just days after senior military officials in Washington and Beijing held their first videoconference talks.

Formal speeches will be delivered on Friday after the forum opens, and senior military officials from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and other countries will participate in roundtable discussions.

Topics of discussion will include U.S.-China relations, security in Europe and Asia, and defense challenges in a multipolar world.