The meeting seeks to consolidate regional capacity for preparedness and response to future biological threats, in compliance with the Asean Leaders’ Declaration adopted at the 44th and 45th summits held here in 2024.

According to the organizers, participants will define priority activities, responsibilities and coordination mechanisms for the implementation of the network, as well as the lead and partner countries in each area of work.

The meeting is a follow-up to the first consultative meeting held in Kuala Lumpur last July, where the terms of reference of the initiative were approved.

The meeting is supported financially and technically by Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and the European Union Centre of Excellence for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risks.

Laos and Malaysia are co-chairs of the initiative, which aims to strengthen regional health security to prevent, detect and respond to biological emergencies.

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