The 2018 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Expert Meeting was held at the Palais des Nations at the United Nations Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, from August 7 to 16.

The meeting reviewed the risks and challenges, bio-risk assessment and management of the implementation of the latest developments in global bioscience and technology. A number of dual-use issues of cutting-edge technologies, such as synthetic biology and genome editing was also discussed at the meeting.

Two synthetic biology experts from Tianjin University and the University of Michigan were specially invited to speak as “guests of the meeting”. Professor Zhang Weiwen, Director of Tianjin University’s Center for Bio-safety Research and Strategy, who was the only expert from China invited to attend the meeting, give a special speech. At the same time, three delegates from the Tianjin University Center for Bio-safety Research and Strategy also participated in the meeting as a registered NGO in the field of arms control.

The “Development of a Model Code of Conduct for Biological Scientists under the Biological Weapons Convention”, jointly submitted by China and Pakistan to the Eighth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention was also one of the important topics. On the morning of August 9, Professor Zhang Weiwen explained the importance of the “Model Code of Conduct for Bio-scientists” and the positive efforts of the Chinese Government in this field at the 2018 Review Expert Meeting on Science and Technology Development. In order to respond to the challenges of dual-use biotechnology development, the Chinese scientific community has conducted a series of discussions among relevant scientists, policy makers, ethics and legal experts in recent years, and has promoted and implemented many new measures. At the same time, the Chinese scientific community is paying more and more attention to international exchange and cooperation in bio-safety and dual-use biotechnology. As an international think tank, the Tianjin University Center for Bio-safety Research and Strategy is committed to participating in the establishment of a new global bio-safety system.

Representatives from Pakistan emphasized that the International Symposium undertaken by Tianjin University had provided an important platform for discussion on the prevention of dual-use biotechnology risks and the promotion of compliance measures. The Swiss representative also endorsed the contribution made by Tianjin University in bio-safety.

In addition, the Tianjin University Center for Bio-safety Research and Strategy organized a side expert event at the Palais des Nations on August 10, with the theme of “ A Code of Conduct for Scientists in Life Sciences: Thoughts and experience from the Chinese scientific community”. This was the first time that a Chinese think tank has systematically introduced Chinese ideas in the form of a side event at the BWC, which reflected the support received by scientific and technological think tanks for national diplomatic work.