I. Background

The issue of public security bears on the well-being of people of all countries, the stability and order of the international community, and the overall situation of global development cooperation.

We are convinced that the historical trends of peace, development and win-win cooperation are still unstoppable in today’s world. In the middle of the accelerated evolution of the profound changes unseen in a century, the international security ecology is confronted with multiple risks and challenges rarely seen before. The division of global security blocs emerges, security mechanisms malfunction, and security risks accumulate. The deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing, and the security situation is more prone to be escalated from “stable to chaotic” and from “chaotic to dangerous”. Countries across the globe have begun to take upgraded measures to pursue traditional security in the face of diversified non-traditional security hazards. Under such a complex backdrop, terrorism is on the rise, drug trafficking keeps increasing, cross-border crimes emerge rampantly, cybersecurity incidents occur frequently, and the risks of artificial intelligence are exposed gradually … In today’s world with severe and complicated public security situations, security and stability are truly precious, and it is imminent for global countries to enhance international cooperation.

Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), an important international cooperation mechanism and platform in the field of public security, stays true to its original aspiration of “Cooperation Promotes Security and Security Guarantees Development”, advocates the people-oriented public security, and upholds the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared interests. It is a carrier that pools global efforts to advance cooperation in public security, serve global development and benefit people all over the world with achievements in safe development in a fairer manner, thus facilitating the building of a community with a shared future for mankind that enjoys universal security and common prosperity.

At the 2023 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), all parties reached a consensus on “co-building the public security cooperation network with the mission of building a community with shared responsibilities, sharing achievements in public security cooperation with the value pursuit of building a community with shared interests, and seeking solutions for public security cooperation with the vision of building a community with a shared future”. The concept paper further explains the aforesaid consensus, providing reference solutions for the promotion of global public security cooperation.

II. Core concepts and principles

(I) Co-build the public security cooperation network with the mission of building a community with shared responsibilities. The public security boasts profound connotations and denotations that cover people’s well-being, social order, national security and other public interests of global countries. To maintain public security, we must pool efforts of multiple subjects, enhance their responsibility consciousness, mission, boundary and behaviors, and build a public security cooperation network. First, governments of global countries must have a strong sense of principal responsibility in maintaining public security. The destiny of the world must be in the hands of people of all countries and security issues need to be discussed by all countries. We believe all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All countries have the responsibility to comply with internationally recognized public security governance norms, to respect other members of the international community, to collaborate in improving the public security governance system, and to promote the safe development of the community. On this basis, major countries with more security resources and experience in governance must fulfill more responsibilities, play a leading role in global public security governance from such dimensions of concepts, directions and practices, take the lead in safeguarding international fairness and justice, and oppose hegemonism or bullying. While other countries, especially developing countries, shall give priority to their own security issues, endeavor to reduce crimes, and avoid spillover of local risks. Second, efforts shall be made to give full play to the multilateral coordination roles of the UN, Interpol, SCO and other international organizations, mechanisms and platforms, as well as functions of the cooperation network, thus helping all parties pool their demands, seek cooperation opportunities, and allocate resources. In the meantime, we can explore ways to set up cross-regional, transnational and inter-departmental collaboration mechanisms to advance the preparation of standard cooperation modes and processes recognized by all parties and synergize efforts for global public security cooperation. Third, NGOs, experts, scholars and civil society shall actively join the public security governance network, strengthen their communication and interaction with governments and international organizations, enhance strategic research revolving around international and regional public security situations, cooperate with competent government departments to ensure good self-regulation, and actively offer public security products to provide intellectual support for deepening the reform of the global security governance system.

(II) Share achievements in public security cooperation with the value pursuit of building a community with shared interests. Human society is a community with shared interests. Particularly, the public security field rife with dynamic, relative and transnational topics bears extensive and profound shared interests as people all over the world share together danger and safety. To maintain public security, we must co-build a community with shared interests and further deepen global public security cooperation. First, we need to balance security and development, as they complement each other and neither can be neglected. We believe that sustainable development will only be attained when comprehensive security comes true, and security will only be firmly established when it is underpinned by sustainable development. We need to place the focus of our efforts on cracking down on various types of transnational crimes that affect the security of the industrial chain and supply chain, properly solving economic, public security, food, health, transportation and other security issues closely related to people’s well-being, and vigorously improving our capacity in security services to empower sustainable development with high-quality security. Second, we need to balance current and long-term efforts. A Chinese saying goes, “Without long-term strategy, the short-term achievement is impossible.” At the 2023 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, Consensus on the Global Public Security Index Research and other achievements were released. The 2024 Conference will release the Global Public Security Index for the first time, empowering the normalized and long-term cooperation in the field of global public security. While studying and solving prominent and pressing problems regarding public security, participants shall also input more in strategic research on fundamental and long-term problems in this field and better identify the public security situations to figure out effective response strategies and put forward new regional initiatives across the globe. Third, we need to balance our own and common security. In the field of public security, global countries have already formed a community of shared interests and no country can detach itself from our interconnected world. We advocate that all parties uphold the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, equal and uniform application of international law, and simultaneous consideration of interests and obligations, as well as the balance of universal benefits. We advocate that all parties oppose “domestic priority” and “double standards”, “small yard, high fence” and “parallel systems”, as well as “unilateral sanctions” and “long-arm jurisdiction”, so that the achievements in safe development can benefit people of global countries in a more extensive and fairer manner.

(III) Seek solutions for public security cooperation with the vision of building a community with a shared future. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the right path for global countries to jointly address challenges and march towards common prosperity, which has developed from a Chinese initiative to a global endeavor. We call on all parties to earnestly implement the Global Security Initiative in the field of public security field and deepen efforts in building a community with a shared future for mankind for lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. First, we need to uphold the top-level leadership concept. Leaders of law enforcement and security departments and elites in the security sector shall establish and improve transnational, inter-departmental and cross-industry communication and cooperation mechanisms revolving around major international and regional security issues, hold regular meetings, strengthen strategic consultation, do well in top-level design, and advance the normalized and orderly global public security cooperation that features joint participation of officials and the general public. Second, we need to uphold the principles of openness and inclusiveness. Social, historical and cultural differences between countries that exist since ancient times should not be a reason to hinder communication, but an impetus to strengthen dialogue. We call on all parties to open their heart, communicate with others sincerely, and endeavor to solve difficulties and differences through friendly dialogue and coordination. Third, we need to uphold the philosophy of smooth and efficient cooperation. While strengthening strategic communication on issues of common concern by leveraging all kinds of mechanisms, we also set up an all-weather hotline for immediate and collaborative settlement of emergencies. Cloud conferences, video telephones and other cloud platforms are also effective supplements to offline visits and communications.

III. Cooperative measures

It is the common aspiration of mankind to continuously improve the global public security governance level to empower the safe development of people of all countries amid a peaceful and stable environment. To this end, we advocate that all parties actively implement the Global Security Initiative, hold high the banner of cooperation, innovation, rule of law and win-win results, and extensively conduct bilateral and multilateral security cooperation. We advocate that all parties actively conduct cooperation in (but not limited to) the following aspects to promote the development of the global public security governance system in a fairer, more rational and efficient direction.

(I) Uphold the UN’s central role in maintaining global public security. Abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, support the central role of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, and actively participate in peace and security building, crisis prevention and post-conflict reconstruction under the UN framework.

(II) Extensively participate in and continuously deepen regional multilateral security cooperation mechanisms across the globe. Fully participate in law enforcement and security cooperation within the framework of international and relevant regional cooperation such as the UN, Interpol and SCO, strengthen cooperation and exchanges between the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) and other international exchange and dialogue platforms, and enhance multilateral cooperation in public security governance.

(III) Effectively conduct international law enforcement and security cooperation. In the part of various countries, international organizations and other law enforcement and security partners, fully leverage professional law enforcement resources and services of Interpol and closely cooperate with Interpol to prevent and crack down on transnational crimes. Actively organize dialogues, hold regular or irregular meetings, dispatch working groups, and establish and improve pragmatic and efficient communication channels and cooperation mechanisms.

(IV) Support civil society’s participation in global public security governance. Actively support NGOs, experts, scholars and CSOs to play their role in global public security governance through theoretical research, education & publicity, knowledge dissemination, provision of public security products & services, and participation in the supervision of the decision-making and behaviors of governments and inter-governmental organizations.

(V) Work together to crack down on transnational criminal activities. Strengthen practical cooperation in information sharing, case investigation, evidence exchange, arrest and repatriation of criminal suspects, etc. Always strike hard and maintain high pressure on transnational crimes such as telecom and network fraud, cross-border gambling, economic crimes, and drug-related crimes. Keep exploring new ways for cooperation in combating new high-tech crimes, maintaining cybersecurity and data security, etc. Jointly prevent and respond to various security risks and challenges to make new and greater contributions to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

(VI) Strengthen international anti-terrorism cooperation. Be aware and bear in mind that terrorism is a common enemy of all mankind, and strengthening anti-terrorism cooperation is an urgent task facing the international society. Abandon ideological prejudice, stop double standards, and severely cracked down on terrorist organizations and personnel blacklisted by the UN Security Council. Strengthen intelligence and information sharing, effectively monitor and prevent terrorist activities, and support developing countries in terms of technologies, training and equipment to enhance their anti-terrorism capabilities.

(VII) Build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace. Establish and improve global cybersecurity governance order and governance framework in response to criminal gangs’ use of blockchain, virtual currency, AI and other new technologies and business forms, constantly upgraded criminal tools, and enhanced confrontation with law enforcement forces. Resolve differences and disputes between developing countries and developed countries regarding cyberspace governance, build consensus on cyberspace security governance, and jointly cope with public security threats in cyberspace.

(VIII) Strengthen cooperation in dealing with potential risks brought by AI. Strengthen cooperation, improve capacity and efficiency in technical risk control, and actively build a legal system for global AI governance, as the public security risks brought by AI have gradually emerged. Stick to the people-oriented principle, foster a concept of “AI for Good”, build the risk evaluation mechanism and guarantee system for AI technologies, and practice the Global AI Governance Initiative.

(IX) Improve the public security governance system. Negotiate and sign various types of bilateral and multilateral cooperation instruments in the field of public security to resolve all kinds of complex problems with rule-of-law thinking, prevent and resolve contradictions and maintain international public order by means of rule of law, while abiding by the UN Charter and principles of international law stipulated in some main international treaties, so as to create a safe and stable social environment and a fair and just rule of law environment for economic and social development.

(X) Strengthen public security capacity building. Actively cooperate in international training in the field of public security, and popularize successful experience and mature practices. Encourage public security academies to strengthen exchanges, promote the standardization of education and training in the field of public security, and improve the level and quality of education and training. Support the establishment of a global training system to train more law enforcement personnel for developing countries to maintain their public security. Actively support the industrial development and market promotion of public security technology equipment and products.