Heightened security measures in place as 61st Munich Security Conference nears opening on Friday
The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) is set to commence on Friday, with security measures intensifying across the city. On Thursday local time, Global Times journalists arriving at Munich Airport were met with light rain and a visible police presence. Along the route from the airport to the city center, patrol cars were stationed at key points.
At the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the main venue of the 61st MSC, the official conference logo is prominently displayed. Global Times reporters observed a prominent security presence around the venue, with police teams patrolling the streets, and TV broadcast vans set up for live coverage. As dignitaries, conference delegates, and media representatives from around the world continue to arrive, Munich has entered "MSC time."
The media center of the MSC is about a five-minute walk from the main venue and will open at 7 am local time on Friday. Reporters from the Global Times have learned that the media center is equipped with approximately 650 workspaces, and information desks to facilitate the use of global media.
The 61st MSC will be held from Friday to Sunday. Known as the "Davos of Defense," the MSC is one of the most important annual forums in the fields of international strategy and security. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and China's minister of foreign affairs, will attend the conference and speak at an event on China to share China's position on major international issues.
On Friday, the conference's main program will start with a focus on global security challenges, including global governance, democratic resilience, climate security, and many more topics. On Saturday, debates will take place on the state of the international order as well as regional conflicts and crises. The future of the transatlantic partnership will also be a focus of the second day of the conference. On Sunday, the conference will wrap up with discussions on Europe's role in the world, according to the MSC website.