Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development and the UK Embassy in Vietnam held abilateral meeting and announced the one-year review of implementing the HanoiStatement on Illegal Wildlife Trade in Hanoi on May 31.

The report was built by the ministry based onthe commitments of 25 countries and international organisations at the HanoiConference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2016.

The UK will host an international conferenceabout illegal wildlife this October.

According to the report, the governments ofcountries have strengthened bilateral and multilateral cooperation as well ascoordinated with international and non-governmental organisations to carry outa number of activities to reduce the demand for wildlife products and eliminateillegal wildlife markets.

Many nations and organisations have adopteddrastic measures to realise their commitments such as closing the ivory marketin China, raising the maximum punishment 15 years’ imprisonment in Vietnam forwildlife crime, and launching projects to prevent illegal trade of wildlife inthe US.

Some countries, territories and internationalorganisations have amended legal documents relating to wildlife crime.

In addition to training activities and legalcapacity enhancement, many countries have strengthened technical equipment forlaw enforcement forces such as customs, police and border guards to intensifyinspections at hot spots of wild fauna and flora.

Some nations have sent officials to others tosupport training and consultancy activities as well as carried out programmesto support local livelihood, forestry protection and development through theassistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the WorldBank.

In Vietnam, the disposal of more than two tonnesof elephant tusks, 70kg of rhino horns and some specimens of tiger bone inNovember 2016 has delivered a strong message of the Vietnamese Government to thestruggle against illegal wildlife trade.

Some leading transport businesses in Vietnamhave announced not to transport rare wild animals.

Besides increasing awareness for businesses andlogistics firms, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry has worked with the Ministryof Education and Training to build a programme educating children about animalprotection.

Vietnamese relevant agencies have stepped upinternational cooperation in the field and prepared all necessary conditions toreach the signing of a judicial assistance agreement.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Ha Cong Tuan said with the successful Hanoi Conference on IllegalWildlife Trade 2016, Vietnam pledged to promote its pioneering role in regionaland international efforts to fight illegal trade of fauna and floral species.

UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever hoped thestrategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK will be developed invarious fields, including the prevention of illegal wildlife trade.

According to Tuan, Vietnam is improving legalregulations, especially guidance documents to implement the Law on Forestry andLaw on Fisheries to create a firm legal foundation for the execution of thePenal Code and specialised laws on natural conservation and protection of wildlifeanimals.

Apart from raising awareness of the community inprotecting wild fauna and flora, Vietnam will forge ahead with internationalcooperation via implementing Memorandum of Understanding controlling wildlifetrade with China, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, the Czech Republic and SouthAfrica, looking to sign the mutual legal assistance agreement with Mozambique,he added.-VNA