Meeting helps boost cross-border enforcement co-operation between China and Vietnam
Guilin, China, October 2016—Chinese officials and their Vietnamese counterparts from enforcement agencies met at the end of October to boost cross-border efforts aimed at reducing wildlife crime.
The meeting of 24 Chinese and 15 Vietnamese officials from departments ranging from Customs, Forest Police, Border Police, Anti-smuggling Offices and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Management Authorities (CITES MAs) was organized by China’s CITES MA, supported by TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and IFAW.
Officials from both sides spoke about current efforts to deter wildlife smuggling and the importance of cross-border co-operation to support these endeavours.
Xiao Yu, a TRAFFIC Project Manager, spoke about the ivory market surveys and enforcement training and awareness raising activities undertaken by TRAFFIC’s offices in China and Viet Nam.
WCS and IFAW encouraged the two countries to work together to solve problems such as instances of Chinese nationals crossing the border into Viet Nam to buy and consume illegal wildlife products.
Viet Nam is a significant source of wildlife products being smuggled into China
Zhou Fei, Head of TRAFFIC’s China office"In recent years, a large number of ivory, rhino horn, tiger bones, pangolin and other wildlife products have been confiscated by enforcement agencies on both sides of the border and this seminar aims to enhance cross-border co-operation between the two countries to combat wildlife smuggling and illegal trade.”
Outputs from the meeting include plans for a joint enforcement training event to take place in Viet Nam next year, public education outreach to Chinese nationals living and working in Viet Nam and a workshop between Chinese State Forestry Administration (SFA) and enforcement officials in Viet Nam to develop messaging and materials to discourage Chinese nationals from buying wildlife products in Viet Nam.
