On September 19, 2024, the Third Symposium on Global Governance and International Cooperation in Biosecurity was held at Chaoyang Campus of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT). The meeting was hosted by the National Biosafety Expert Committee and co-organized by the School of Life Science and Technology of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the National Security Institute of the Foreign Affairs College, and the Wuhan Institute of Virus Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Responsible comrades from relevant ministries and dozens of experts in the field of biosafety gathered together to discuss the topic of “international biosafety governance system and governance capacity”, and achieved fruitful results.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr. Tong Yigang, Dean of School of Life Science and Technology of Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Academician Xu Jianguo, Chairman of the National Biosafety Expert Committee, Vice President of Beijing University of Chemical Technology Mr. Wang Feng, Vice President of Foreign Affairs College Mr. Gao Fei and Vice Director of Wuhan Institute of Virology of Chinese Academy of Sciences Mr. Ji Changzheng made the opening speeches successively.
Vice President Wang Feng pointed out that biosafety is a major issue concerning the destiny of all mankind. The rapid development of biotechnology in the world today is like a double-edged sword, which has brought unprecedented innovations and benefits to many fields such as human health, agriculture and the environment, and at the same time, it has also triggered a series of complex and serious biosafety risks and challenges. Biosafety issues transcend national boundaries and are not subject to geographical limitations, and require global attention and joint efforts.
Vice President Wang Feng said that Beijing University of Chemical Technology hopes to strengthen cooperation with domestic research institutes, universities and enterprises, and jointly build a more open, inclusive and efficient biosafety global governance system.
In the symposium on “International Biosafety Governance System and Governance Capability”, 20 frontline researchers in the field made speeches one after another. Focusing on the theme of international biosafety governance, the delegates carried out in-depth exchanges and dialogues on the topics of health, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, international organizations and mechanism construction in the light of their respective specialties.
As an annual brand activity of the National Biosafety Expert Committee, this meeting has effectively consolidated the consensus of experts, deepened the cooperation among relevant organizations, and contributed to the promotion of research and practice of global governance and international cooperation in biosafety.