The inter-sessional Open-ended AD Hoc Expert Group meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, including plastic pollution in the Marine Environment, was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 24 to 28 August. Government nominated experts from 157 countries and regions participated in the conference. Nana Zhao, Assistant Director of the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific and the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Capacity-building and the Transfer of Technology in Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter referred to as the "BCRC China"), and Dr. Quanyin Tan, Chief of General Office of BCRC China, participated in the meeting as experts nominated by the Chinese government.

This meeting was convened in response to the request by INC-4 to establish two intersessional open-ended ad hoc expert groups to provide information and technical support to the work of INC. The first expert group held analytical discussions on potential sources and means of funding to achieve the objectives of the instrument, including options for establishing a financial mechanism, restructuring financial flows and facilitating financing. The second expert group discussed standard or non-standard approaches to the management of plastics products, chemicals in plastics products and product design, including, inter alia, problematic and avoidable plastics products, chemicals of concern and product design for recyclability and reusability. The outcome of the meeting will be considered by the Committee at INC-5.

In the course of the meeting, representatives of BCRC China participated in and made presentations at the second expert group meeting, providing strong technical support to the Government of China's expert mission on issues such as problematic and avoidable plastics and product design for recyclability and reusability.