China calls for closer Asean cooperation to lower biosecurity and bioweapons risks
Consensus was reached in Shenzhen during first regional forum with 11 Southeast Asian countries last week
China has urged collaboration with Southeast Asian countries to improve biosecurity and the governance of bioweapons.
Beijing made the call during the first regional workshop with 11 Southeast Asian countries last week in the science and technology hub of Shenzhen.
The convention, which China, Russia and the United States are signatories to, is a global safeguard aimed at prohibiting the development and use of such weapons.
“We will strengthen exchanges and mutual understanding, and promote the modernisation of the biosecurity governance system and governance capacity … and build political consensus, jointly resolve biosecurity risks and promote biotechnology for the benefit of mankind,” Lin said.
“We should also strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention and support international and regional organisations to provide more public products, and explore follow-up actions and deepen coordination … through regular workshops.”
In addition to the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), and China and East Timor, representatives from global organisations were also at the seminar, including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the UN Institute for Disarmament Research.
