Beijing holds security cooperation dialogue on Belt and Road Initiative

Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with officials attending a security cooperation dialogue on the Belt and Road Initiative, in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A security cooperation dialogue on the Belt and Road Initiative, attended by officials from more than 20 countries, was held Thursday in Beijing.

Enhancing international cooperation to tackle risks and safeguard security for the Belt and Road Initiative is the common task for all countries, said Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Meng called on attendees to make full use of the dialogue to enhance exchanges of information and deepen security and law-enforcement cooperation.

More than 100 countries and international organizations have already joined the Belt and Road Initiative, a China-proposed trade and infrastructure plan connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.

"Cooperation in trade, investment, and infrastructure have been growing, thanks to the Belt and Road initiative, " Meng said, adding that the forthcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will push for further cooperation.

The high-profile forum, which will be held from May 14 to 15 in Beijing, will see at least 28 heads of state and government.

"We hope that all sides would foster the concept of common and cooperative security, and establish a sound security cooperation mechanism for the Belt and Road Initiative," China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun said at the opening ceremony of the dialogue.

Guo called for stepping up pragmatic cooperation in such areas as public security, anti-terrorism, and protecting overseas interests.

Participants attending the dialogue pledged to strengthen security cooperation with China for the Belt and Road Initiative.