Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song on Wednesday stressed that it is imperative to restart negotiations for a protocol that includes a verification regime to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). 

Noting the BWC is an important pillar of global biosecurity governance, Li highlighted the Convention's irreplaceable role in promoting international peace, security and development at a special session on strengthening the BWC mechanism. 

It is in the common interest of the States Parties and the international community to promote the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the BWC, Li said. 

The verification mechanism is the most effective means to ensure compliance and confidence building, the ambassador pointed out, adding that only the U.S. has been obstructing negotiations for a BWC protocol for some 20 years. 

Li said the U.S. has been accustomed to pointing fingers at other countries while ignoring the serious international concerns about its own compliance. 

The U.S. has 200 bio-labs around the world and conducts more bio-military activities than other countries, Li pointed out, adding that the lack of transparency and security risk of those bio-labs is of major concern to the international community. 

He urged the U.S. side to fulfill its obligations under the Convention in an open, transparent and responsible manner, and to provide full clarification of its bio-militarization activities within and outside its borders. 

The U.S, which has "returned to multilateralism," should play a "leadership role" and give the international community a clear explanation, said Li.

The ambassador also stressed that the ninth BWC Review Conference scheduled next year is an important opportunity to further strengthen the Convention mechanism and voiced China's hope that it will make a decision to restart the negotiation process of the verification protocol. 

All views and proposals conducive to restarting the negotiations could be discussed, and it was important to regain a clear common direction and begin to take solid steps, Li added. 

During the meeting, China's advocacy for restarting the negotiations on the verification protocol received a wide response as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) made a joint statement on behalf of 123 States Parties, urging the U.S. to change course and calling for the resumption of this important negotiation as soon as possible.  

Representatives of Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, Cuba, India, Iran, Kenya, Venezuela, the Philippines, Ireland and many other countries also made statements, emphasizing the importance and urgency of strengthening the verification mechanism for compliance with the BWC.