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Statement from White House on Joint US-China Commitment on Wildlife Trafficking and Peacekeeping

Rachel FinnNo comments

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Statement from White House on Joint US-China Commitment on Wildlife Trafficking and Peacekeeping

Posted by Rachel Finn on September 29, 2015

Statement from White House on Joint US-China Commitment on Wildlife Trafficking and Peacekeeping

On September 25, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States, the White House issued a Fact Sheet from the trip on the various areas of future cooperation between the U.S. and China. As part of their collaboration to address global and regional challenges, the two countries touched on both wildlife trafficking and peacekeeping.
 
The excerpt on Wildlife Trafficking states:
 
Wildlife Trafficking –  The United States and China, recognizing the importance and urgency of combating wildlife trafficking, commit to take positive measures to address this global challenge.  The United States and China commit to enact nearly complete bans on ivory import and export, including significant and timely restrictions on the import of ivory as hunting trophies, and to take significant and timely steps to halt the domestic commercial trade of ivory.  The two sides decided to further cooperate in joint training, technical exchanges, information sharing, and public education on combating wildlife trafficking, and enhance international law enforcement cooperation in this field.  The United States and China decided to cooperate with other nations in a comprehensive effort to combat wildlife trafficking. "
 
Wildlife Conservation Society put out a statement welcoming this commitment, including that "…Two of the most powerful Heads of State want an end to all ivory trade. That's only good news for elephants, and we call upon all governments to follow suit…Today’s announcement is critical to the fate of Africa’s beleaguered  and declining elephant populations. The ruthless criminal syndicates operating both in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia may just have lost their biggest market."
 
The excerpt on Peacekeeping states:
 

Peacekeeping –  In recognition of the critical role UN and regional peacekeepers serve in maintaining international peace and security, the United States and China affirm to further increase their robust commitments to international peacekeeping efforts.  The Chinese side appreciates the U.S. side’s holding of the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping, and welcomes the new contributions to be announced by the United States to support peace operations. The United States welcomes the new contributions to be announced by China to support UN peacekeeping efforts.  The United States and China recognize the need to deepen the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations on peace operations.  Both sides look forward to an enhanced discussion with the African Union and other partners to further explore proposals to this end.  Both sides decided to continue discussions to deepen cooperation on capacity building for troop- and police-contributing countries."
 

Both the U.S. and China have an important role to play in supporting an end to conflicts around the world, notably in South Sudan and others in central and eastern Africa.  This joint commitment to enhanced discussion with the African Union on peace operations will be a critical part of ensuring a sustained, peaceful resolution to the crisis in South Sudan and elsewhere.