To further promote the “model code of conduct for biological scientists” submitted by the Chinese and Pakistani delegations at the Eighth Review Conference, the Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy of Tianjin University (hereafter Center) held a side meeting at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on the afternoon of August 10
th , as invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. The Center director, Prof. Weiwen Zhang, chaired the side meeting. At the meeting, Deputy Director Lu Xiaodong, the Arms Control Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, attended the meeting on behalf of the Chinese government and expressed support for the side meeting. In addition, Dr. Yang Xue from Tianjin University, Dr. Koos van der Bruggen from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Malcolm Dando from the University of Bradford, UK attended the meeting as speakers. The side event received wide attention and nearly 90 representatives and experts from different countries joined the event.
Prof. Zhang and Dr. Xue from the Center respectively elaborated on the importance of the model code of conduct, and the basic principles and specific contents of the draft code. At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. van der Bruggen and Prof. Dando introduced the relevant experience of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in the development of the Code of Conduct for Scientists and the importance of biosafety education for the Code of Conduct.
The meeting lasted for more than two hours. The representatives from the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Iran, Pakistan and other countries joined the discussion. Mr. Ljupco Gjorginski, Chairman of the BWC Meeting of States Parties in 2018, highly praised China's contribution in promoting the code of conduct for biological scientists.
