Việt Nam and Japan Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in Forestry Sector
Tokyo, The Gulf Observer: In a significant stride towards fostering bilateral cooperation in forestry, the Department of Forestry of Việt Nam and the Department of Forestry of Japan have inked a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), outlining a comprehensive framework for collaborative endeavors in various facets of forestry management and sustainability.
The MoC encompasses eight key cooperative activities aimed at enhancing sustainable forest management, addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies, optimizing forest resource management and utilization, promoting biodiversity conservation and forest landscape restoration, implementing measures for natural disaster prevention through forest management, spearheading research and development initiatives in forestry technology, facilitating human resource development, and ensuring the legality and responsible trade of timber and timber products.
During the signing ceremony held in Tokyo, Trần Quang Bảo, Director of Việt Nam’s Forestry Department, expressed profound gratitude for the steadfast cooperation and support extended by the Japanese counterparts over the years in advancing the forestry sector. Bảo highlighted Japan’s pivotal role in aiding Việt Nam in formulating and implementing strategic policies and vital projects, including the refinement of the 2017 Forestry Law and the formulation of decrees and circulars to facilitate its implementation.
Through non-reimbursable technical assistance ODA programs/projects and preferential loan projects, Japan has played a pivotal role in bolstering sustainable forest management, improving the livelihoods of forest-based communities, conserving biodiversity, and addressing climate change impacts within Việt Nam’s forestry sector, emphasized Bảo. He lauded the effectiveness of the programs/projects implemented in Việt Nam, attributing them to the sector’s success in recent years.
Despite the notable achievements, Bảo emphasized the necessity for continued collaboration to fully leverage the potential and strengths of both nations in forestry, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and depth of bilateral cooperation to further the development of their respective forestry industries.
Aoyama Toyohisa, Head of the Japanese Forestry Department, commended the close coordination exhibited by the Vietnamese counterparts and underscored the pivotal achievements attained through mutual cooperation. Toyohisa advocated for reinforced coordination in devising plans to effectively implement the eight identified activities outlined in the MoC.
In addition to the signing ceremony, the Vietnamese delegation partook in various engagements including bilateral discussions with the Japan Biomass Power Association, meetings with representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and participation in the 4th Biomass Innovations Asia. These platforms facilitated the exchange of information regarding wood processing and trade in Việt Nam, alongside discussions on regulations pertaining to wood legality, thereby contributing to the promotion of legal wood production and sustainable trade of wood and wood pellets between the two nations.
