The Governments of the People’s Republic of China and of Malaysia co-hosted the “Second Regional Workshop on Implementing the Biological Weapons Convention and Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southeast Asia” from 18 to 20 November 2025 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
The workshop was supported by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD). Furthermore, the Sun Yat-Sen University supported the local organization of the workshop.
Participants in the Regional Workshop in Guangzhou, China
More than 70 participants from ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as representatives from 15 different Chinese institutions attended the event. Additionally, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), UNRCPD and BWC ISU participated in the regional workshop. The Chairperson of the BWC Working Group on Strengthening the Convention, Ambassador Frederico Meyer of Brazil, and two of the Friends of the Chair on National Implementation also participated in the workshop.
In her opening remarks delivered as a pre-recorded video message, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, stressed that the BWC must be fully operationalized, properly institutionalized, and equipped with a future-adaptable verification mechanism. She noted that this crucial task is the mandate of the Working Group established by the Ninth Review Conference, whose draft final report provides a solid basis for negotiation. The High Representative highlighted the unique and urgent opportunity this year presents to strengthen the Convention in light of rapid advances in science and technology and the evolving global security landscape.
Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
WANG Daxue, Deputy Director General of the Department of Arms Control, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention and the centenary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol and stated China’s commitment to advancing global biosecurity governance under the guidance of the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, calling for strengthened unity, people-centred development, the upholding of the standing of the United Nations and the authority of the BWC as well as earnest implementation and comprehensive strengthening of the Convention.
WANG Daxue, Deputy Director General of the Department of Arms Control, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TAN Li Lung, Undersecretary of the Multilateral Security Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, framed the BWC as Southeast Asia’s indispensable “Protective Shield” against invisible and borderless biological threats. He stressed that in an era of rapid advances in synthetic biology, the region—rich in biodiversity and deeply interconnected—must urgently reinforce this shield through a unified regional framework, practical biosafety standards and full implementation of Article X of the Convention. Furthermore, he emphasized that the Convention’s strength lies not in verification alone but in shared commitment and synchronized preparedness, affirming that collective action is essential to ensure biological developments serve peace, never war.
TAN Li Lung, Undersecretary of the Multilateral Security Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
The regional workshop was carried out as an interactive three-day event. The workshop’s format enabled a detailed exchange on national implementation measures. Representatives from eleven participating States Parties presented their respective frameworks for implementing the BWC and strengthening national biosafety and biosecurity. Participants also extensively shared information on their national legal and regulatory landscapes. Notably, all States Parties from the region have at least once submitted Confidence Building Measures (CBM) reports. The workshop also showcased concrete opportunities for international cooperation and assistance under Article X of the BWC.
Practical Site Visit to the Guangzhou National Supercomputing Center and KingMed Diagnostics in Guangzhou
A dedicated panel session on the Working Group on the Strengthening of the BWC provided a platform for in-depth discussion on the ongoing work. Ambassador Frederico Meyer of Brazil, the Chairperson of the Working Group, outlined the negotiation of a package including an International Cooperation and Assistance Mechanism and a Scientific and Technological Advisory Mechanism, and the establishment of an Open-Ended Working Group on Compliance and Verification. The Friends of the Chair on National Implementation highlighted the importance of maintaining a depoliticized, technical focus in discussions to foster productive dialogue on legislation, biosafety, and capacity-building.
Panel Discussion: Working Group on the Strengthening of the BWC – A Southeast Asian Perspective
Experts from international organizations provided authoritative assessments of the global biorisk landscape. Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) outlined their respective mandates and tools for supporting member states. Presentations highlighted the dual-use implications of rapid advancements in synthetic biology, gene editing, and the convergence of artificial intelligence with biotechnology.
Experts from WOAH, WHO, FAO and UNIDIR (from left to right)
The workshop also included a practical scenario-based exercise on emergency preparedness and response, simulating a disease outbreak in a conflict-affected state. Discussions highlighted the critical importance of rapid international alerting, multidisciplinary investigation teams (with reference to mechanisms like the UN Secretary-General's Mechanism), and the logistical challenges of mounting a swift, effective response.
Scenario Discussion: Emergency Preparedness and Response
Participants highlighted the value of bringing together stakeholders from diplomatic, security, and health sectors, which fostered a meaningful multisectoral dialogue at the regional level. The inclusion of experts from international organizations across human, plant, and animal health was also welcomed, adding depth to discussions through a One Health perspective. At the conclusion of the workshop, the Co-Chairs provided a summary of the proceedings and expressed their intention to hold such regional workshops regularly, to sustain the shared commitment to strengthen the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which plays a significant role in maintaining peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Workshop Closing Session
Financial support for the workshop was provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Additional information on the BWC is available here.
