1. Advances in biological science and technology continue to play an important role in fostering human health and wellbeing. However, they also carry potential risks of misuse or abuse.

2. The development of biosecurity codes of conduct for scientists has therefore been a major consideration in global biosecurity governance. Broad acceptance of responsible biological research and development of corresponding codes of conduct will bring out the full potentials and benefits of research in this field and help to prevent its misuse or abuse.

3. The Sixth Review Conference of the BWC in 2006 reached consensus on recognition of "the importance of codes of conduct and self-regulatory mechanisms in raising awareness, and call(ed) upon States Parties to support and encourage their development, promulgation and adoption".

4. Since 2015, efforts have been underway to develop biosecurity codes of conduct for scientists. States Parties, the scientific community and other stakeholders have carried out in-depth discussions on all relevant issues in an inclusive, pragmatic, scientific and cooperative spirit, to draft a code of conduct, contributing to an improved text of a model, voluntary code of conduct based on an expanded political consensus.

5. Over the past year, based on the Chinese and Pakistani working paper of 2016 and discussions in the framework of the BWC, Tianjin University's Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Johns Hopkins University's Center for Health Security, and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) cooperated to host in-depth discussions on a high level set of biosecurity guidelines that could be used at the national or institutional level to inform, supplement, or update current codes of conduct. The three organizations also facilitated two workshops with scientists from academia and industry from States Parties spanning four continents to contribute to and provide advice on the development of the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists. The IAP subsequently endorsed the Tianjin Guidelines.

6. The Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists cover major aspects of responsible biological research, such as Ethical Standards, Laws and Norms, Responsible Conduct of Research, Respect for Research Participants, Research Process Management, Education and Training, Research Findings Dissemination, Public Engagement on Science and Technology, Role of Institutions, and International Cooperation.

7. The development of the Tianjin Guidelines responds to the aspirations of and the determination of international scientific community to responsibly conduct biological research activities. Such an international process, based on science and with a broad representation, can be an effective approach to strengthen international biosecurity governance and cooperation.

8. China and Pakistan:

Fully subscribe to the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists;

Believe that these will contribute to the realization of the goals and objectives of the BWC, including by promoting discussions in other multilateral fora to further advance global biosecurity governance;

Encourage all stakeholders to voluntarily adopt the Guidelines, adapting them as appropriate for their own situation; and

Invite all States Parties to support this working paper as co-sponsors.

9. China and Pakistan are pleased to submit the Tianjin Guidelines as an annex to this working paper and propose that the Ninth Review Conference of the BWC:

Endorse the Tianjin Guidelines and encourage all stakeholders to voluntarily incorporate elements from the Guidelines in their practices, protocols, and regulations, and to disseminate the Guidelines, as appropriate; and

Task the intersessional process to exchange information, experiences and good practices about the dissemination of the Tianjin Guidelines and report the outcomes of these exchanges and dissemination to the Tenth Review Conference.

Annex:The Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists