Vietnam and South Africa have signed an action plan to translate into
deed their biodiversity conservation commitments in the Memorandum of
Understanding signed in Hanoi in December 2012.
The plan was inked on May 6 at the talks between Vietnamese Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan and South
African Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice
Mabudafhasi in Pretoria , South Africa .
The
plan prioritises improving management capacity, biodiversity protection
and conservation, and law enforcement in the field in line with each
country’s law and international conventions, including the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES).
Under the plan, which will take effect
until 2017, the two sides will promote information exchanges, set up a
gene bank, and step up communication campaigns to raise the public’s
awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Speaking at a press conference after the signing ceremony, Deputy
Minister Tuan asserted the Vietnamese Government’s wishes to reinforce
comprehensive cooperation with South Africa , particular in
biodiversity conservation to prevent the poaching of endangered animals,
especially rhinos.
Talking with the Pretoria-based
Vietnam News Agency correspondent, Mabudafhasi said she is happy with
the signing of the action plan and Vietnamese colleagues’ efforts to
realise their commitments in the field.
She expressed her
hopes that these efforts will gradually put an end to the poaching of
wild animals and the trading of rhino-horns.
During
their working visit, Vietnamese officials will make a fact finding tour
of national parks where they expect to exchange experience in management
and law enforcement in biodiversity conservation with the host
country’s experts.-VNA