Vietnam - Cambodia signed bilateral cooperation in the forestry sector

According to the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in forestry for the period 2024 - 2029 between Vietnam and Cambodia signed within the framework of the 27th ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Forestry (ASOF 27), the main areas of cooperation that the two sides have agreed on include: Sharing information and experience; promoting investment in the forestry sector and forest product trade; scientific research, training, capacity building at all levels in forestry; forest protection including forest fire prevention and control; ecosystem restoration, cross-border biodiversity conservation; prevention and control of illegal logging and transportation of timber and timber products, hunting of wild animals and plants; adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts.

Mr. Pham Hong Luong, Deputy Director of the Forestry Department (second from left), representing the Vietnamese delegation, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation on forestry for the period 2024 - 2029 with the representative of the Cambodian delegation at the 27th ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Forestry (ASOF 27).

It is known that from July 18-19, 2024, in Bogor City, West Java Province, Republic of Indonesia, the 27th ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Forestry (ASOF 27) took place. This is an annual conference on forestry of Southeast Asian countries to prepare a report to the 46th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Meeting (AMAF 46).

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Mr. Pham Hong Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

Attending the Conference were representatives of 09 ASEAN countries; ASEAN Secretariat; ASEAN partner countries/international organizations: China, Secretariat of the Agreement on Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Center for World Forestry Research (CIFOR), German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ), EU Program to support ASEAN countries in Strengthening Forest Law Enforcement, Forest Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT Program), UN-REDD Asia Program.

Delegates attending the 27th ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Forestry (ASOF 27)

The conference focused on discussing and agreeing on a number of important contents, including: ASEAN Forestry Cooperation Strategy (2016-2025); Sustainable forest management in the ASEAN region; Forest product development in the ASEAN region; Forest issues and climate change in the ASEAN region; Cooperation between ASEAN countries on implementing the CITES Convention and strengthening law enforcement on wildlife (ASEAN-CITES and WE); New programs/projects and cooperation initiatives in the ASEAN region; Cooperation plan with ASEAN partner countries and organizations.

At the Conference, the Vietnamese delegation updated the current status of forest resources, Vietnam's new policies/regulations on forestry, especially on sustainable forest management, forest certification and implementation of international commitments in the forestry sector. Vietnam also pointed out opportunities, challenges and recommendations to the Conference to enhance sustainable forest management in the ASEAN region.

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation also spent time meeting and exchanging with countries and international organizations that are partners of Vietnam to promote cooperation activities and mobilize resources for the Vietnamese forestry sector.

Source: https://danviet.vn/viet-nam-campuchia-ky-ket-hop-tac-song-phuong-trong-linh-vuc-lam-nghiep-20240719095516726.htm