The Chinese government on Tuesday said it has been observing
strict procedures to manage and control imports of timber and
forest products and combat illegal trade activities.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks when
asked to comment on environmental group Greenpeace's report that
China imported thousands of cubic meters of illegally felled
tropical hardwood from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia last year to
supply its furniture industry.
The report said China's demand for timber was destroying the
forests in those countries.
Liu said the timber trade was an important element of global
trade, adding the legal timber trade had no direct link with the
destruction of forests in certain countries or regions.
Liu stressed the Chinese State Forestry Administration, the
Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs were
jointly exercising supervision and control over the imports of
timber and forest products and were jointly trying to prevent
illegal trade activities.
As a big importer and exporter of timber and forest products,
said Liu, China attached great importance to cooperation with
timber producing countries.
The government advocated the principles of mutual benefit and
long-term sustainability in exploiting forest resources and
required Chinese enterprises to follow local laws and regulations
while conducting logging, renewal and wood processing in wood
producing countries, said Liu.
China was actively cooperating with other countries in the
protection of forest resources and wildlife, forest fire-proofing
and scientific and technological exchanges so as to promote common
development, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2007)
