The Chinese government has said stiffer punishment to poachers and traffickers is the only way to fight against wildlife crimes.
Deputy Chief of Mission to Malawi and Political Councilor Mr. Xiusheng Wang, made the remarks in Lilongwe during a media briefing on how China is supporting global community in protection of wildlife and resolutely oppose to and crackdown illegal wildlife trade.
“China’s position on transnational wildlife poaching and trafficking is consistent and clear, that is, the only right way is severe punishment.” He said and shared that Chinese government is handing down long prison sentences to wildlife crime offenders that can go up to 30 years.
Mr. Wang indicated that China is cracking down severely on illegal wildlife trade, and completely prohibit the ivory trade by promoting “No buying, no killing”.
He said although ivory carving is China’s intangible cultural heritage, but Chinese government since January 2018, demonstrated its firm position and determination on wildlife conservation by imposing a ban on ivory and ivory products trade including stopping all commercial ivory processing and shutting down of all sales sites, setting an example for the whole world.
Also, he said through China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and laws and regulations such as Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Endangered Wildlife, Chinese government is registering key successes in promoting its development of wildlife conservation and rescue of endangered and rare wildlife.
Wang said China supports the Malawi government in cracking down hard on illegal poaching and trade of wildlife. He mentioned that last year, it supported the Malawi Wildlife Department with two drones to propel surveillance efforts in wildlife parks since some areas are hard to reach by patrol cars.
“We will continue to cooperate with the Malawi Wildlife Department all other institutions such as NGO’s to raise awareness. For the embassy’s part, we will continue to call on all Chinese nationals to stay away from illegal trade and poaching and any other forms of illegal action against wild animals and we will continue to work with the Malawi government for the protection of wildlife.” Assured Wang
“China National Forestry and Grassland Administration, together with the General Administration of Customs, visited Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and other African countries to hold seminars with the theme of endangered species conservation, calling on the public to stay away from illegal trade of ivory and other wildlife products.” He said
In its Africa cooperation, Wang said China has among others signed memorandum of understanding with South Africa in 2014 to protect wildlife, provided financial support to African countries for wildlife conservation and that this year China is supporting Zimbabwe in rescuing drought-affected wildlife in the National Park of Zimbabwe.
He then assured that China is willing to strengthen cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation under the framework of the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) to create a good living environment for all wildlife.
He said FOCAC is an important platform for China and African countries to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade. He noted that with financial support and personnel training programs, already, the mechanism of FOCAC has helped African countries to effectively improve their ability in law enforcement and capacity building for wildlife conservation.
The Chinese president Xi Jinping announced during the 2015 FOCAC Summit in Johannesburg a China-Africa Green Development Cooperation Plan, which includes 100 projects for wildlife conservation and ecological environment improvement in Africa. And, during 2018 FOCAC Summit in Beijing, President Jinping proposed Green Development Initiative where China will implement 50 green development and eco-environmental assistance projects in Africa.
Commenting on FOCAC promises, Wang said China attaches great importance to the wildlife conservation since ancient times. He said upholding harmonious coexistence between human and nature is an important part of China’s efforts in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
“Wildlife is the common wealth of mankind and protecting wildlife also our common responsibility. International cooperation is the key to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching.” He said
As a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Wang said Chinese government has carried out joint anti-smuggling endangered species operations with many countries in Africa, Asia and North America and international organizations to effectively combat wildlife crimes.
He noted that as African wildlife species continue to decrease due to poaching and illegal trade, all countries and international organisations engaged in exchanges and cooperation with African countries “should, from the perspective of safeguarding Africa’s sound natural environment and sustainable development, earnestly shoulder their responsibilities and fulfil their obligations by strengthening international cooperation on African wildlife conservation, and working together to build a beautiful Africa where people live in harmony with nature.”
“As a responsible country, China calls on all countries to take concrete actions to prohibit their practices of hunting and trafficking African wildlife, abandon ideological thinking and oppose double standards of saying one thing and doing another for wildlife conservation. We should jointly conduct practical cooperation on combating wildlife poaching and trade in Africa to protect the natural resources for the conviviality of human and nature.” appealed Wang
This article appeared in The Investor Magazine
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