Vietnam, US accelerate implementation of logging control agreement
VOV.VN - Vietnam always tries its best to implement the agreement on illegal logging and timber trade with the United States, with pledges made to develop a transparent, sustainable, and responsible forestry sector.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri and Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) for Environment and Natural Resources co-chaired a meeting from August 22 to August 23 of the Timber Working Group between Vietnam and the US in Washington, D.C.
The Timber Working Group was initially established with an aim of implementing the Agreement between the Vietnamese and US Governments regarding the control of illegal logging and timber trade.
At the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation updated the implementation progress of the agreement and exchanged details on the enforcement of commitments set out within the agreement with a focus on intensifying customs control and inspection for imported timber shipments.
It also took time to review and eliminate financial incentives for the wood processing industry, while stepping up co-operation with exporting countries of raw wood in a bid to control the origin of timber, amend legal documents in order to revise the enterprise classification system, and add criteria for identifying positive geographical areas to make it impossible for confiscated timber to become involved in the supply chain.
In the process of renovation and integration into the global economy, the country has consistently followed the principle of "sustainable development." Besides, the nation also has strong commitments to uniting with international efforts to protect the environment and the Green Planet.
At the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), the Vietnamese Government committed to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to the level recorded in 2020, as well as working towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
The forestry sector will therefore play an important role in implementing these commitments.
The US side highly appreciated the country for seriously realizing the commitments made as part of the agreement, as well as pledging their continued technical assistance for the nation in order to help the country strengthen the capacity of competent agencies towards forest protection, biodiversity conservation and illegal logging control.
