BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- An international counter-terrorism forum hosted by China's armed police force started in Beijing Monday.

With the theme "Mountain Counter-terrorism Strategy," the four-day event, "Great Wall-2018 International Forum on Counter-terrorism," attracted more than 180 representatives from military and police from 28 countries and regions including France, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Mexico.

"With joint efforts with our foreign counterparts, the 2018 forum aims to provide a platform for cooperation, share experience, and build capacity to counter terrorist incidents, thus effectively maintaining national security and social stability in our countries," said Qin Tian, deputy commander of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

"The world nowadays suffers from terrorism," said Col. Kahled Hanandeh, director of strategic studies at the General Directorate of Jordanian Gendarmerie.

"Terrorism is a crime which causes the loss of lives and destruction of property, in additional to psychological and social damage," added Hanandeh, stressing the importance of preventing and destroying terrorism cells through coordination and cooperation.

During the forum, participants will attend discussion panels concerning mountain counter-terror strategies, and observe drills such as combat-oriented shooting and resolving hijacking scenarios.

Initiated in November 2016, the biennial Great Wall forum aims to deepen cooperation, strengthen friendship, and enhance capability through sharing combat experiences with foreign counterparts.