We are pleased to announce that the 13^th PIIC Beijing Seminar on International Security will be held in Beijing, China, from October 31^st to November 3^rd, 2012. This seminar has successfully convened every two years since 1988, for a total of twelve times. The seminar brings together experts from the natural and social sciences to discuss important issues at the intersection of science and security. In this setting, experts from a wide variety of backgrounds have contributed their insights on urgent security matters across the globe, helped enhance mutual understanding between different cultures, discussed differences in security approaches among different regions, and have also increased awareness and helped inform Chinese scholars' analyses of global security issues.

The seminar is of particular importance in the context of a changing global security environment. We find ourselves at a critical point in time where collaboration and collective decisions on the world's future is necessary; we can choose the path of progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, or the path of stagnation where diverging perceptions of nuclear threats persist.

The seminar welcomes in-depth analysis which could challenge commonly-held views on issues of international security. Are ideas like nuclear deterrence and nuclear hedging still valid in today's world? What are reasonable substitutes to nuclear deterrence? How would a build-up of ballistic missile defense influence global strategic stability? Is a build-up in BMD capabilities in fact a type of arms race?

In addition, the seminar will consider nuclear safety and security and will provide an opportunity to discuss opportunities for strengthening materials security in the future. In past seminars, new ideas were put forward and dynamic discussions occurred among participants from different countries, making the seminar stimulating and challenging.

As in all previous seminars, the goal of the 13th seminar is to provide a forum for experts to exchange their views, engage in discussions on these important matters of international security and to consider the most recent security developments. Through this seminar, we hope participants can introduce potential concepts and mechanisms to enhance global stability and security for the coming decades.

The main topics of this year's seminar will include:

1) Nuclear Arms Control and Verification

1. Progress on nuclear arms control and the steps to a world free of nuclear weapons
2. Ballistic missile defense (BMD) development and its impact on strategic stability
3. CTBT, FMCT and nuclear disarmament verification.