AFSN’s Xiamen Initiative: Strengthen forensic science cooperation to safeguard public safety

The 18th Asian Forensic Sciences Network (AFSN) Annual Meeting & Symposium will be held in Xiamen, China, in November 2026, during which the Xiamen Initiative under the theme Strengthen Forensic Science Cooperation to Safeguard Public Safety will be officially released. Centered on five core dimensions dubbed the "5S" framework, the initiative covers Safety & Security, Sharing, Sustainability, Standardization and Smartness. It voices Asia’s collective propositions and provides value-oriented guidance, marking a milestone in the development of Forensic Science in Asia. This paper briefly reviews the development and advancement of AFSN, examines the key problems and challenges facing forensic laboratories in Asia, explains the core meaning and significance of the Xiamen Initiative, and outlines prospects for its subsequent implementation.