Mr. Zhang Shougong, CAF President, and Mr. Gerhard Dieterle, ITTO Executive Director, renewed the MOU

In the afternoon of 11 Sep, Mr. Gerhard Dieterle, the newly-appointed ITTO Executive Director, led a delegation to CAF for a seminar. Mr. Zhang Shougong, CAF President, and Mr. Gerhard Dieterle, ITTO Executive Director, signed the renewal of the MOU. The seminar was hosted by Mr. Xiao Wenfa, CAF Vice President.

Mr. Xiao Wenfa thanked Mr. Dieterle for his participation in the Youth Forum, UNCCD COP13, hosted by CAF. He looked forward to further cooperation in technical training through the renewal of the MOU. Mr. Lu Wenming, Director of Division of International Cooperation, gave an introduction of CAF and reviewed CAF’s cooperation history with ITTO.

Mr. Dieterle said that ITTO attaches importance to its collaboration with CAF. The visit to China was his first trip since he took office. He spoke highly of the 32 ITTO programs and a large number of international training sessions conducted by CAF, and was confident of deepening future cooperation and exploring new modes.

Mr. Steve Johnson, Assistant Director, and Mr. Li Qiang, market analyst of ITTO, and Mr. Wang Hong, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Research Institute of Forest Resource Information Techniques, Mr. Lv Jianxiong, Executive Director General of Research Institute of Wood Industry, Mr. Wang Dengju, Director General of Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, and related staff from Division of International Cooperation, CAF, attended the seminar and witnessed the renewal ceremony.

CAF is the most important implementing institution of ITTO programs in China. Since China joined ITTO in 1986, CAF has carried out 32 programs funded by ITTO, totaling more than 10 million USD. 7 research institutes were involved, including Research Institute of Wood Industry, Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, and Forest Resource Information Techniques. During this process, CAF built a database for tropical forest resources and forest products, published a large amount of important research papers and reports, held many international seminars and training sessions, cultivated a large number of talents, improved professional capacity and English level of the implementing staff, purchased equipment, and improved research conditions. Members of the programs brought new ideas and philosophies after returning from abroad for visits or learning. Many programs led to valuable research results, attracting foreign experts to visit tropical forests in China, or request program results through the internet. Some results filled the gap in certain fields in China. ITTO’s program in tropical forests in Hainan received the first prize for scientific progress of Hainan Province. In addition, 22 person-times from CAF were funded by ITTO to visit overseas or attend international conferences, which played a positive role in the growth of the experts. A lot of CAF experts, as members of ITTO programs, also contributed a lot to ITTO’s development. (Words by Li Xuejiao, Division of International Cooperation, CAF. Photos by Zhou Xiaoxing, CAF Office.)