Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should promote cooperation in the exchange of scientific forestry research and afforestation in coastal areas and desert areas like Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces, said an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

At the fifth session of the Vietnam-RoK Forestry Cooperation Committee in Hanoi on Dec. 8, Deputy Head of MARD’s Forestry General Department Nguyen Ngoc Binh said he hoped the RoK would become involved in the Forest Sector Support Partnership (FSSP) for deeper and more effective cooperation.

Yoon Young-kyon, Director General of the Forest Resources Policy Bureau of the Korea Forest Service, said his country had significant experience in afforestation.

He said he hoped Vietnam would assist and facilitate RoK business activities and implement cooperation projects between the RoK and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to Binh, Vietnam’s forest coverage has been raised from 35 percent in 2004 to more than 39 percent in 2009. However, forest quality has decreased. In the meantime, Vietnam is one of countries that are being badly affected by climate change.

Vietnam has cooperated and exchanged information with many countries to improve its forest protection capability and reduce the negative impacts of climate change, he said.

The Vietnam-RoK Forestry Cooperation Committee meets every two years. The two countries were expected to sign a minute of forestry cooperation for the 2010-2012 period on the afternoon of Dec. 8./.