Joint Statement by Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi, Co-chairs North East Asia Regional Meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament 

Beijing: 22-23 May 2009

The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament will hold its second regional meeting – for North East Asia – in Beijing, China, on 22-23 May. Participation in the two day meeting will include several Commissioners, a number of Advisory Board members and some 20 experts from around the region from Governments, think tanks/academia and industry.

The intention of the meeting is to explore regional perceptions of the issues with which the Commission is grappling: non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and the potential renaissance of nuclear power. Co-Chairs Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi also see this regional meeting as an important opportunity to garner regional support for the overall objective of the Commission – the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons world wide.

The Beijing meeting provides a strategic opportunity for the Commission to continue investigation of all options for mitigating nuclear proliferation and promoting disarmament. The meeting will specifically focus on how regional governments, civil society actors and civil nuclear industry can effectively deal with the interconnected challenges of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and contribute to global efforts to dramatically minimise, then ultimately eliminate, the role of nuclear weapons.

The Commission plans to convene two further outreach meetings in 2009: in South Asia (New Delhi) on 5-6 September and in the Middle East (Cairo) on 26-27 September.

The Commission's report, to be issued at the end of 2009, will stimulate and influence high level political discussion and decision-making in the run up to the May 2010 Conference to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

For background on the Commission, an independent global panel established by the governments of Australia and Japan, visit www.icnnd.org.

Please direct media inquiries to Australian Embassy, Beijing: Jill Collins +86-10-5140 4171 Mobile: +86-13601259093 (English and Chinese) and ICNND Secretariat: Leona Landers +61 2 6261 2812 (Mobile: +61 2 421 488457)