China’s position on Ivory Trade
China’s position on Ivory Trade
The East African
February 21 2009
Recently, several Chinese nationals were found in possession of ivory
bangles and necklaces during transit through Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport, as a result of which exaggeration and misinterpretation within
some local NGOs arose.
The embassy would like to reiterate China’s position on ivory trade and
some related issues.
1. China greatly values endangered species and has banned ivory trade
since 1991. The Chinese government has adopted a series of laws and
policies against the smuggling of and illegal trade in ivory. With the
new policy loosening the restrictions on the ivory trade conditionally
introduced by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (Cites) in 1997, China has been targeted as a destination of
ivory trade by many businessmen internationally.
Since May 2004, the Chinese government has requested all markets to
earmark their ivory products with a unified icon to check the flow of
the products and set up a database information system on all ivory
products to ensure no illegal ivory enters the legal market.
At the same time, the Chinese government has engaged in a wide range of
educational campaigns. The relevant authorities have hosted seminars to
emphasise the importance of controlling the ivory trade, printed and
dispatched posters on ivory trade control to be posted in the visa
chambers of Chinese embassies in African countries as well as the
embassies of African countries in China.
The Chinese government requests its citizens in Africa to abide strictly
by the local laws and regulations, and not engage in any trade or
transportation of ivory or its products.
The aforesaid efforts have won the recognition of representatives from
many international organisations and Cites Parties who have visited to
China to inspect China’s administration and law enforcement on Ivory trade.
2. Being fully aware of the Kenyan side’s concerns on wildlife
protection, the Chinese embassy in Kenya has made every effort to
educate the Chinese nationals not to engage in trade and transportation
of ivory and its products. We have posters against ivory smuggling in
our visa chamber. The embassy issues notices to the Chinese nationals in
Kenya from time to time to remind them of the importance of this issue.
The ambassador raises this issue many times during functions held by the
local Chinese communities. The embassy has direct communications with
the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) on the protection of wildlife and how
to contain the smuggling of ivory.
We are proud to say that our measures are effective. Up to now, the
embassy has not been contacted by the local police or KWS on poaching or
smuggling committed by Chinese nationals based in Kenya.
3. The embassy feels sorry that there were several Chinese nationals
found in possession of ivory in JKIA. Actually, they all came from other
African countries and were in Kenya in transit. They bought ivory
products like bangles and necklaces from certain African countries as
souvenirs that are available openly in the local market. Many of them
are first-time tourists to Africa, and are not familiar with
international practices on ivory. They are actually distinct from the
smugglers we normally talk about. Anyway, they violated the Kenyan law
out of ignorance and they have learnt their lesson.
4. However, the misdeeds by some individuals cannot be interpreted as
activities of the whole nation. We cannot accept the groundless
accusations by some NGOs that Chinese are behind the poachers. Actually,
the embassy had approached the relevant NGO for further evidence or
information in August 2008 when we first read the accusations, and the
embassy is yet to get them until now.
The position of the Chinese government on the ivory trade is clear. We
are open, sincere, and ready to work with relevant parties to address
such issues in a manner that is objective and fair.
The Chinese Embassy in Kenya
Nairobi
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