Article 1
1
The Union shall pursue the development of cooperation between civil society, industry, and government representatives of China, the Union, and the African States, including through dialogue between respective civil societies and industries, to develop common approaches to address the threats posed by the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of SALW and the lack of regulation at international level of trade in conventional arms. Development of such cooperation should also be reflected in increased support for and implementation of a strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty.
2
The Union shall pursue the objective referred to in paragraph 1 through the following projects and measures:
- the establishment and development of a joint African-EU-Chinese Expert Working Group on conventional arms and a joint African-EU-Chinese Research Centre on conventional arms. The objective of the Expert Working Group and the Research Centre shall be to increase among the policy community in China, Africa, and the Union responsible for conventional arms issues and export controls thereof, awareness of, and engagement on, problems related to the illegal trade and excessive accumulation of SALW, and the lack of regulation at international level of legal trade in conventional weapons. Increased awareness of, and engagement on those issues, will contribute to the successful negotiation and implementation of, a strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty,
- conducting advocacy and research activities aimed at identifying opportunities for EU-China cooperation to support African States in preventing the illegal trade in and excessive accumulation of SALW.
A detailed description of the projects and measures referred to in this paragraph is set out in the Annex.