Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for selecting a negotiation counterpart. Specifically, the first device sends a discovery message in the network, and the discovery message includes a technical objective. The first device receives a first response message with which a second device replies, and receives a second response message with which a third device replies. The first response message carries information about a characteristic that is of the second device and that supports implementation of the technical objective, and the second response message carries information about a characteristic that is of the third device and that supports implementation of the technical objective. The first device can select a device with a higher technical objective support degree from the second device and the third device as the negotiation counterpart according to the first response message and the second response message.