Full Breakdown
David Finkelstein Reflects on Two Decades of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Reflection and Upcoming Attendance
On September 14, 2026, David Finkelstein, a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) in the United States, posted a video to the forum’s official X account (@XiangshanForum). In the recording he reviewed his nearly twenty-year involvement with the Beijing Xiangshan Forum and confirmed his intention to travel to Beijing in the autumn of 2026 for the next edition.
Evolution of the Xiangshan Forum
The forum was launched in 2006 as a modest gathering of scholars. Over the past two decades, Finkelstein observed that it has expanded into a “major international event,” according to his remarks. The growth he describes reflects a shift from a small, regionally focused meeting to a platform that regularly convenes participants from multiple continents.
Participant Profile
David Finkelstein — Distinguished Research Fellow, Center for Naval Analyses, United States; regular attendee of the Xiangshan Forum since its inception, missing only two of the annual meetings.
Geographic Reach and Scale
Finkelstein highlighted that attendees now come from Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. This broad representation underscores the forum’s transformation into a venue for cross-regional dialogue on “pressing issues of the day,” as he put it.
Significance for International Dialogue
He suggests that the event’s expanded scope enhances the exchange of ideas among experts worldwide, reinforcing its role as a conduit for sustained academic and policy discussions between China and the global community.