Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea will take part in an ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Jan. 28-29.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued on Jan. 25, themed ‘ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,’ the retreat will discuss priorities and key deliverables under the Lao chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
Ministers will also discuss follow-ups to the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta last year and ways forward for ASEAN Community building, including progress in developing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
In addition, ministers will exchange views on ASEAN’s external relations as well as regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
On the sidelines of the retreat, H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea will hold bilateral talks will several counterparts to expand mutually beneficial cooperation under bilate
ral and multilateral frameworks.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse
Hanoi: Representatives from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam recently visited the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to work on the care for suspectedly smuggled wallabies.
The first wallaby was discovered in nature and caught by residents in Duc Long commune of Thach An district in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, on November 8, 2023. Two more were found by local police and people the next day, and another on November 11.
The animals later were sent to the Hoang Lien centre for wildlife rescue, conservation and development of the Hoang Lien National Park for care in a semi-natural habitat.
However, two of the wallabies died due to the stress caused by the long distance between Cao Bang and Lao Cai, the cold in winter, and illness. The two remainders are adapting well to the new environment, said veterinarian Tran Thu Nga, who is caring for the macropods.
The Australian Embassy said on January 26 that visiting
the centre, it’s representatives presented 80 million VND (over 3,200 USD) in financial aid to help the centre continue caring for the wallabies.
At the meeting, Director of the Hoang Lien centre La Van Toi said Vietnam is a hot spot of wildlife trafficking, and that the wallabies are the first and only foreign-origin animals at the centre.
He expressed his hope that the embassy will help the centre connect with animal rescue organisations, experts, and volunteers to better care for the plants and animals here, including the wallabies.
Local authorities noted there are no wallabies in nature in Vietnam, so the animals could have been abandoned when smugglers were uncovered by forest rangers.
Wild animals endemic to Australia can only be exported for non-commercial purposes like exhibiting at zoos. Any individual and organisation accused of committing illegal wildlife trade will be investigated and fined or imprisoned if found guilty, according to the Wildlife Trade Office of Australia’s Department of Agri
culture, Water and the Environment./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency