A communication method and apparatus are provided. A first network element receives a policy creation request from a second network element, wherein a type of a policy requested to be created includes an intent policy or a non-intent policy; and sends a policy processing request to a third network element, wherein the policy processing request includes a policy type identifier, and the policy type identifier indicates that the policy is the intent policy or the non-intent policy. According to the present disclosure, policy execution reliability is improved.