Vietnam, Czech Republic Foster Cooperation in Environment, Natural Protection

Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan held talks with Czech Minister of Environment Petr Hladík in Hanoi on September 12 to promote ties in environment and natural protection, state media reported.

Both ministers looked into the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), of which both countries have membership.

Minister Hoan proposed the Czech Republic support policy consulting and improve the effectiveness of implementing the convention in Vietnam while coordinating with Vietnam to develop a joint project to reduce demand and raise people’s awareness of endangered species trade.

He also desired greater cooperation with the Czech side in forestry development, industry restructuring, green growth, and biodiversity protection. The minister also called on the Czech Republic to support the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Forest Governance, and Forest Product Trade (VPA/FLEGT) between Vietnam and the European Union.

In reply, Minister Petr Hladík said that the Czech Republic pledged to accompany Vietnam in raising awareness about preventing illegal wildlife trade. The country is also willing to discuss measures and research concerning climate change with Vietnamese scientists, he added.

Noting the unstable supply of Vietnamese farm produce in the Czech market, the minister proposed Vietnam soon send a delegation of veterinary and livestock experts to conduct a survey, as well as consider licensing Czech pork, beef, and sausage products to be exported to Vietnam.

Besides, both ministers looked forward to developing ecotourism between Vietnam and the Czech Republic by strengthening the organization of promotion events for rural agricultural tourism.

On the same day, the Czech Minister met with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan. During the talk, the Vietnamese side hoped to expand cooperation with the Czech Republic in the fields of water and sanitation, climate change adaptation, waste treatment, and circular economy.

(Nong Nghiep, QDND, www.mard.gov.vn, Mekong ASEAN, Bao Tai Nguyen Moi Truong