A delegation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recently completed a visit to China, during which they investigated the protection of Asian Elephants and trade of ivory in China. The delegation came to the conclusion that China had made great efforts at protecting Asian Elephant population and habitats, standardizing the management of ivory processing and trade, severely cracking down on illegal smuggling and trade of ivory etc. and had achieved positive results.

The delegation went to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou to inspect the protection of Asian Elephant and the management of ivory procession and trade in China. It believes that relevant laws and regulations are perfecting, that protection, management and law enforcement system are improving. In particular, some systems have met the requirements of relevant decisions of the CITES such as site-specific procession, distribution and uniform labeling of ivory products introduced to standardize the management of ivory procession and trade, as well as the database information system established to keep track of and manage the storage and consumption of ivory materials. In some areas stricter requirements than those of the convention were made, which indicates the clear stand and position of the Chinese government to be responsible for the protection of international endangered species.

Officials with the State Forestry Administration said China would further improve on protection, management and law enforcement measures to ensure the consolidation and expansion of achievements already made, to earnestly carry out international conventions while maintaining the sustainable development of China's traditional craft in ivory sculpture.

By People's Daily Online