The Forest Protection Department of Việt Nam and Department of Forest Inspection of Laos on Friday held a conference in the central city of Huế to review cooperation in the last five years. — VNA/VNS Photo

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — The Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with the Department of Forest Inspection of Laos, organised a conference in the central city of Huế on Friday to review their cooperation in the last five years and discuss coordination activities in the 2023-28 period.

The event brought together representatives of forest management and protection units in 10 provinces of Việt Nam and Laos.

The two agencies agreed to exchange information on new regulations and policies in managing and protecting forests, and timber and wildlife trade; continue mutual support at international forums; share experience in formulating mechanisms, policies and laws; strengthen cooperation in preventing and controlling forest fire along the border areas shared between the two countries; and coordinate to build a system for early detecting and monitoring forest changes.

They will also coordinate in deploying many activities to respond to changes in wood and wood products in the international market, especially large ones; improving sustainable forest management ability; and creating favourable conditions for businesses to expand investment in producing and processing forest products in accordance with current laws of the two countries.

The two agencies will work closely to supervise and promote trade in forest products; enhance coordination in preventing illegal cross-border transportation and trade of rare animals and plants; and boost communication and education activities to raise public awareness on forest protection and biodiversity preservation.

They will also coordinate in proposing bilateral programmes and projects and mobilising resources from international organisations to build a cross-border biosphere reserve; monitoring the conservation and restoration of endangered species; and searching for, breeding and restoring the saola (an endangered bovine, scientifically known as pseudoryx nghetinhensis) population in the central area of Trường Sơn Mountain Range between the two countries.

Việt Nam and Laos share a 2,340 km borderline, sketching through 10 Vietnamese provinces which adjoin 10 Lao provinces. The two countries share seven international border gates, and six main border gates. — VNS