The 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC) kicks off on Friday, focusing on global order reshuffle.

Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), wears a jersey with the European flag with one missing star while giving a speech to open the 55th Munich Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on February 15, 2019. The 2019 edition of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) will take place from February 15 to 17, 2019. [Photo: AFP/Christof STACHE]

"The world now is not only experiencing a series of smaller and bigger crises, but also an epochal shift. An era is ending, and the rough outlines of a new political age are only beginning to emerge," the Chair of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, said in his opening address.

Ischinger called on participants to build trust in each other during the conference, encouraging people to "talk to each other" rather than "talk about each other."

"It's not enough to just sit and watch while institutions built over decades are eroded," Ischinger said.

Dressed in a hoodie with the EU logo, Ischinger said that the EU's self-assertion will be one of the most important issues to address.

The conference, scheduled from Friday to Sunday, has attracted heads of state and government and other prestigious figures in world politics and security. The event will cover issues including competition and cooperation between the great powers, the EU's future, and the already tainted transatlantic relations.

The Munich Security Conference was first held in 1963. Its original aim was to shore up commitments and help coordinate western defense policies. It has since grown to involve representatives from around the world and has served as a platform for debates on global security issues.