Photo: Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsBeijing venue for international workshop
Last updated: 09/11/2010 //
On November 4th to 6th, representatives from 32 countries, including Norway, and 9 organizations and regional groups met in Beijing for a workshop on the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). The workshop was co-hosted by China, Canada and the BWC Implementation Support Unit
The BWC is a treaty between 163 state parties which prohibits the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. It entered into force in 1975, and the seventh Review Conference of the BWC will take place in 2011. The workshop was characterized by active discussion on several issues which will be important at the Review Conference next year.
Photo: Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsAmong the issues discussed was the relationship between article three, which focuses on preventing others from acquiring biological agents for weapons use, and article ten, which focuses on peaceful use. Outreach efforts to make the treaty more universal, and the future of Confidence-Building Measures were also discussed in detail. Representatives from both Indonesia and Switzerland presented BWC related projects they have done in cooperation with Norway. Participants at the workshop appeared intent on action in order to make next year's Review Conference a success.
After two days of intense discussion, the workshop participants ended their stay in China with a sightseeing trip to the Great Wall organized by the hosts.