[enviro-vlc] Vietnam, China sign pact on forestry, animal husbandry

[vern weitzel]

From: Stephen Denney <srdenney at gmail.com>
Date: 21 September 2010 12:22:11 AM PDT
To: vnnews-l at anu.edu.au
Subject: [vnnews-l] FR-CH: Vietnam, China sign pact on forestry, animal husbandry

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

September 18, 2010 Saturday

Vietnam, China sign pact on forestry, animal husbandry

LENGTH: 394 words

Text of report in English by state-run Vietnamese news agency VNA website

["Vietnam, China Agree on Agriculture, Forestry"]

Hanoi (VNA)-The two neighbouring countries, Vietnam and China, are now
committed to carrying out more joint initiatives on forestry
development and applying modern techniques in animal husbandry.

This was made clear in a memorandum of understanding signed in Hanoi
on September 17 by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MARD) Cao Duc Phat and the head of China's National Forestry Bureau,
Jia Zhibang.

The MoU also deals with deforestation, climate change, controlling
forest fires, protecting endangered species, enforcing the forestry
law and educating the public on forestry and environment protection.

The accord came in after talks between the two signatories during
which the head Chinese delegate expressed his satisfaction at recent
developments in this field.

Since 1994, both countries have launched a number of joint projects in
the forestry sector and held regular meetings, said Jia.

His view was shared by Phat, who was particularly interested in
developing agricultural cooperation, especially in forestry.

He said that forestry plays an important role in the nation's economy
and society.

" Vietnam has taken numerous measures to combat deforestation and
improve the eco-system. The Government has disbursed 1 trillion VND,
(roughly 51m USD) on forestry projects, which along with contributions
from businesses and the public, has helped to increase the nation's
forest coverage by 40 per cent," said the minister.

He added that forestry development has not only contributed to
conserving the eco-system but has also ensured the standard of living
of 25m farmers, or one-third of the nation's population.

Phat pointed out that the condition of forests in the Mekong and Red
Rivers valleys in China would have an impact on Vietnam .

Therefore, if China makes progress in its reforestation, it is not
only good for the world's most populous nation itself, but also good
for adjacent countries such as Vietnam , Laos and Thailand , he said.

MARD's head official expressed his support for China 's initiative to
sustain forests in Asia and the Pacific.

He also thanked China for its aforestation project, which is worth
500,000 USD to the northern province of Phu Tho.

Source: VNA news agency website, Hanoi, in English 17 Sep 10
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