Division 2.1.1 Project objectives

to establish fora and networks for Union, Chinese and African policy community experts to discuss different aspects of conventional arms illicit trade,

to increase, among the policy community in China, Africa, and the Union, awareness of, and engagement on, problems related to the illegal trade and excessive accumulation of SALW, and poor regulation at international level of legal trade in conventional weapons. Increased awareness of, and engagement on these issues, should result in common support for a strong and robust ATT,

to enhance, at official and policy-community levels, EU-China-Africa dialogue in order to improve mutual understandings and identify common approaches on the UN ATT process, up to, at and beyond the 2012 ATT diplomatic conference, including through support to joint research and analysis by Union, Chinese and African researchers on respective national and regional positions,

to develop recommendations from the research community on the ATT and SALW, and to effectively transmit them to Chinese, African and Union's and Member States government officials, politicians and policy communities.