The 12th 2BS (To Be Secure) Forum, organized by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro, took place on October 7-8. Zhao Minghao, professor at the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University and China Forum expert, was invited to speak on China’s ties with Russia and NATO.

It is of inherent relevance as well as global significance for China to maintain good relations with Russia, said Professor Zhao Minghao. Meanwhile, China and Ukraine established a strategic partnership as early as 2011. The conflict in Ukraine is driven by complex history, reality and geopolitics, and it is imperative to prevent escalations. “Threat inflation” in NATO’s somewhat biased strategic perception of China needs to be effectively addressed in order for the bilateral relations to grow steadily and healthily, he pointed out. Zhao also answered questions on Taiwan, China-US ties, and China’s military modernization.

The high-level politico-security forum featured President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović, Deputy Secretary General of NATO Mircea Geoană, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Montenegro Raško Konjević, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ranko Krivokapić, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Defense of North Macedonia Slavjanka Petrovska, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu, UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Stuart Peach, Director of Security and Intelligence Agency of Croatia Daniel Markić, and US Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Reinke, among others.