At the invitation of Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Sergey Ryabkov and Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being Dr Anna Popova, Myanmar’s delegation led by Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Dr Aung Zeya attended the opening ceremony of the fifth International Scientific and Practical Conference on “Global Biosecurity Challenges, Problems and Solutions,” held at the Novotel Hotel in Sochi, southern Russia on 10 June.
The ceremony commenced with a flag salute to the Russian national flag. Dr Anna Popova then read a message from Russian President Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Following this, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Sergey Ryabkov delivered opening remarks. Dr Popova presented an address on modern global biosecurity challenges and strategic responses under a multilateral global approach, while Mr Ryabkov highlighted the role of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in addressing global biosecurity threats and requirements.
A video message from UN Under-Secretary-General Ms Izumi Nakamitsu was played, in which she emphasized the importance of technology in global biosecurity efforts.
During the subsequent plenary session, Mr Frederico Meyer, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), discussed international cooperation among BWC members and preparations to prevent future threats from biological and toxic weapons. Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Ms Diana Atwine shared her country’s cooperation with Russia in controlling domestic biological epidemics, including the deployment of mobile research laboratories and collaboration with Russian scientists.
European Representative to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Mr Budimir Plavsic, addressed international standards for countering biological threats. Director at the Russian Ministry of Defence Mr Sergey Kuznetsov elaborated on Russia’s implementation efforts in line with the BWC. Deputy Director General at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Arms Control and Disarmament) Mr Wang Daxue stressed the risks of manipulating biological data with AI, while Director at Rospotrebnadzor Mr Vadim Govorun, urged that AI-driven bioengineering should be used only after thorough scientific scrutiny and only when truly necessary.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Ryabkov concluded the plenary session by summarizing key points and adding further remarks.
After the session, the deputy minister visited both indoor and outdoor exhibitions showcasing advanced laboratory equipment and mobile research labs from Russian biosecurity organisations, where he observed and discussed relevant technologies on display.
MNA/KZL
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