Forum, exhibition helps promote wildlife protection among young people

Chinese youth volunteer Li Li addresses the group at the China-South Africa Youth Volunteers Programme in Wildlife Conservation Forum at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa on Nov 17, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Five Chinese youths from Beijing Forestry University, the National Zoological Museum, Shenzhen Yantian Foreign Study School and Black Leopard Wildlife Conservation Station, an NGO, took part in the forum.

The exhibition, meanwhile, focused on conservation efforts and featured images of endangered species in Asia and Africa.

"Similar to South Africa, China is a country with vast biodiversity and various wildlife," Chen Fengxue, deputy director of China's State Forestry Administration, said shortly before a ceremony to mark the opening of the events. "Both countries have agreed to boost collaboration and support each other in issues of biodiversity protection, wetlands conservation and desertification prevention."

Chen said the youth volunteers program was another key event in 2015, China's Year of South Africa, and would boost exchanges and cooperation between young people in the two BRICS countries.

He also said that China and South Africa were enjoying their best period in bilateral relations, and emphasized that China appreciates the African country's achievements in wildlife conservation.

Contact the writer at renqi@chinadaily.com.cn