The opening ceremony of “2015 Training Seminar on Sino-Africa CITES Implementation and Wildlife Conservation”, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) and co-organized by China National Bamboo Research Center (CBRC) of Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) and the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office of China (CNMA), was held at CBRC on Oct. 9. Mr. Meng Xianlin, Executive Director-General of CNMA, Mr. Chu Fuxiang, Vice President of CAF, Mr. Wan Ziming, Deputy Commissioner of State Forestry Administration (SFA) Shanghai Resident Office, Mr. Wang Zhangming, Deputy DG of Zhejiang Department of Forestry, Mr. Yu Hui, DG of CBRC and Mr. Chomunogwa Ramanapasi, senior officer of Zimbabwe Wildlife Service, attended the event and delivered speeches. Mr. Ding Xingcui, Director of International Cooperation Division of CBRC facilitated the ceremony.

Mr. Meng Xianlin pointed out this seminar aimed to help the participants learn the status quo of wildlife conservation and CITES implementation, appreciate the social, economic and cultural development in China, and promote the Sino-Africa cooperation in CITES enforcement. Mr. Chu Fuxiang acknowledged the success of the past 4 CITES  seminars and looked forward to the elevation of training capability of CBRC. Mr. Wan Ziming sincerely hoped that African countries would collaborate with China to fight against wildlife trafficking. Mr. Wang Zhangming expected that such exchange activities would benefit the regional wildlife resource protection and contribute to socio-economic development. Mr. Chomunogwa Ramanapasi believed that this training seminar could promote the in-depth discussion and good partnership between China and Africa on some critical issues. Mr. Yu Hui wished all the participants enhance the mutual trust, exchange the thoughts thoroughly, and explore the novel collaboration modes of wildlife conservation.

Officials from the Enforcement Division of CNMA, the Enforcement Division of SFA Shanghai Office, Wildlife Rescue and Protection Station of Zhejiang Department of Forestry, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Security Department of Alibaba Group as well as CBRC staff were also present.

Totally 23 participants attended the opening ceremony. They came from 6 CITES member countries in Africa, including South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania.