Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Japan will enhance forest management collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in a recent working visit to the East Asian country by Director of the Department of Forestry Tran Quang Bao.

Accordingly, they will work together to sustainably manage the forests, mitigate and respond to climate change, utilise forest resources, and enhance the forest biodiversity preservation work. Besides, they will research and develop new technologies in the area, and ensure the legality and responsibility of wood and wood products.

At the signing ceremony, Bao spoke highly of Japan’s cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam in the area over the past years, adding Japan has helped Vietnam build and carry out important strategies, policies, and projects such as completion of the legal system, particularly the Law on Forestry in 2017 and related decrees and circulars.

With non-refundable technical support programmes, ODA projects, and concessional loan programme, Japan has assisted Vietnam to enhance sustainable forest management, improve local livelihoods, preserve biodiversity, and respond to climate change.

He went on to say that most of the programmes have been effectively implemented, contributing to the success of the forestry sector, adding Japan is one of the five largest importers of Vietnamese wood products with a value of 1.5-2 billion USD each year.

Bao suggested the two sides bolster cooperation to capitalise on their forestry potential and strengths, making contributions to the development of the forestry sector in each nation.

Director General of the Japanese Forestry Agency Aoyama Toyohisa recommended the two countries build plans to bolster cooperation in an effective and practical manner as defined in the MoU.

The two sides should coordinate to build and recognise each other’s wood legality to promote the trade of wood responsibly, create favourable conditions for Japanese experts to come and assist Vietnam more in the area, effectively roll out the Joint Crediting Mechanism, and develop and implement cooperative projects related to the International Tropical Timber Organsiation (ITTO), he added.

Bao attended a talk with the Japan BioPlastics Association, had a meeting with the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Indu𝓀stry, and participated in the 4th Asian bioplastics conference. At the events, the Vietnamese side shared information on the country’s wood processiღng and trade as well as regulations on the legality of wood./.