The first Regional Workshop on Implementing the Biological Weapons Convention and Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia was held from 23 to 25 October 2024 in Shenzhen, China. 

The Workshop was co-hosted by the People’s Republic of China and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the current chairmanship of ASEAN,  supported by the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs, and organized by the Sun Yat-sen University. Government officials and experts from China and 11 Southeast Asian countries as well as representatives from international organizations attended the workshop. Mr SUN Xiaobo, Director General of Arms Control Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China delivered remarks in the opening ceremony of the workshop.

Participants shared national approaches adopted and best practices for implementing the BWC and for strengthening biosafety/security, exchanged views on improving global biosafety/security governance, and explored potential areas and approaches of regional and international cooperation. China and the Lao PDR issued a Co-chairs summary of the workshop during the closing session.

Full Text: Co-chairs summary of the Regional Workshop on Implementing the Biological Weapons convention and Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia