The conference, the fourth of its kind that was hosted by the European Union, co-sponsored and co-chaired by Canada and the United States, brought together some 200 nonproliferation experts.

According to a joint press release issued by the EU, the US and Canada, the primary purpose of this conference is to provide a forum for governmental experts to discuss non-proliferation cooperation, identify future challenges and discuss their programs to address outstanding needs.

The conference program included five working sessions: nuclear security, chemical weapons destruction, biological cooperation, scientific expertise and export control. The experts at the meeting exchanged information on current and planned project activities and on lessons learned in implementing projects in the field.

"These exchanges benefit participant governments as they implement their current programs and consider future activities," it said.

The first conference of such kind was hosted by the United States here in June 1999. The Netherlands hosted the second conference in The Hague in December 1999 and the EU hosted a third meeting here in March 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2002)