On 7 June, the 2018 Seminar on Africa CITES Implementation and Wildlife Conservation, hosted by Ministry of Commerce, and organized by China National Bamboo Research Center (CNBRC), Forestry Science and Technology Training Center of State Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office, was opened in Hangzhou. 16 participants from 7 African Member States of the CITES, i.e., Mali, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Madagascar, South Sudan and South Africa, attended the Seminar. Liu Dewang, Deputy Director General of the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office, Wan Ziming, Deputy Director General of the Shanghai Office of SFGA, Wu Zhongliang, Director General of Station of Wildlife Conservation, Zhejiang Department of Forestry, and Julia Mwasame, official of Kenyan Ministry of Tourism, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Chen Yuhe, Deputy Director General of CNBRC.

Liu Dewang said that wildlife conservation is an issue faced by both China and Africa. The Chinese government attaches great importance to conservation of endangered species and combating wildlife related crimes. The Chinese government adheres to the principle of sustainable development, promoting ecological development and working towards harmonious development between man and nature.

Julia Mwasame said that although Africa has abundant wildlife resources, due to greed of mankind, wildlife species in the region are encountered with severe threats. Habitats degradation, hunting, poaching and trafficking have become major concerns of law enforcers. She also calls on the African countries to take urgent actions and the participants to take good opportunity of this Seminar to learn expertise and play their due roles.

Wan Ziming, Wu Zhongliang and Chen Yuhe introduced work and achievement of Shanghai Office of SFGA, Zhejiang Department of Forestry and CNBRC respectively. They called on the African countries to strengthen their cooperation with China on wildlife conservation and CITES implementation, learn advanced management ideas and methods from different countries, and take advantage of this Seminar to strengthen cooperation and exchanges on wildlife conservation and other areas of forestry.

Executives from the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office and Zhejiang Department of Forestry also attended the opening ceremony. (Zheng Youmiao from CNBRC)