Domestic and foreign experts and policy-makers joined a conference todiscuss global solutions to transnational wildlife trafficking in Hanoion March 24.

The conference was hosted by the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) in Vietnam.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Ministerof Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan, said thatslaughtering and trafficking wildlife as well as demand for wildlifeconsumption was a global issue which needed countries to take drasticand prompt action to bring it under control.

Vietnam was committed to closely work with other countries in an attempt to fight against wildlife crime, Tuan added.

Directorof CITES Vietnam Do Quang Tung said that this year, the body would alsosubmit solutions to deal with seized rhino horns and elephant tusks by2015, he added.

The body also planned to finish a draft circularto instruct authorised agencies how to charge criminals for traffickingrhino horn and elephant tusk by the end of this year, he said.

SusanLieberman, Executive Director of Conservation Policy for the WildlifeConservation Society, said that the Wildlife Conservation Society wascommitted to its long-standing collaboration with the Government ofVietnam, and other governments around the world, to effectively tacklethis problem.

"We welcomed the statement from Deputy MinisterTuan who announced that his ministry was considering the destruction ofVietnam's stockpiles of rhino horn, ivory and tiger bone, telling boththe world and its citizens that there was no place in Vietnam forwildlife trafficking, or the consumption or trade in endangered speciessuch as rhinos," she said.

If this decision was turned intoaction, it would set a high standard for other governments, andreinforce Vietnam's commitment to treating wildlife crime a seriouscrime, she said.-VNA