The dialogue meeting that will attract over thirty countries, international organizations and experts, is aimed at providing a forum for integrated and creative engagement among not only government officials but also experts and civil society organizations to take ambitious action to reduce global threats posed by weapons of mass destruction, including the threat of catastrophic nuclear terrorism.

According to the organizers, the objectives of this year’s dialogue is to: explore practical approaches to achieve and track new, concrete bio-security activities to advance international bio-security, specifically within the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, and the Global Health Security; raise threat awareness on biological risks among high level-policy makers, particularly within foreign affairs and defense ministries; and identify barriers to strengthening bio-security globally.

Issues on: the current status of global bio-security and emerging risks; mechanisms for turning commitments into creative and collective action in 2018 and beyond; existing approaches and agreed tools for enhancing bio-security and breakout sessions will form highlights of the agenda for the dialogue meeting.