A senior Chinese forestry official on Tuesday called for more exchanges and consultation between China and Southeast Asian countries to boost even closer cooperation in the field forestry.

Reducing felling of trees and increase forest coverage has become the consensus of the region and the entire international community. China is working for the set target to increase its forest coverage from the current 18 percent to 23 percent by the year 2020, said Li Yucai, deputy director of China's State Forestry Administration at a forum on forestry cooperation.

The forest coverage in China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) put together accounts for 68 percent of Asia's total and 10 percent of the world 's total.

China and ASEAN countries keep close cooperation in the forestry industry and the scope of cooperation is expanding, with increasing investment and personnel exchanges, which has promoted the development of the industry in both sides and contributed to the increase of forest resources in Asia and the world, Li told officials and experts at the forum, part of the four-day China- ASEAN Expo due to close on Wednesday in the southern China city of Nanning.

Describing increase in exchanges and cooperation as a strategic choice of forestry industries in China and ASEAN countries, Li put forward a three-point proposal to reach the goal.

He said China and the ASEAN should give full play to the existing bilateral and regional cooperation mechanism and increase exchanges in technologies, information and personnel of the forestry industry for common growth.

The two sides should explore effective ways for the development their forestry industries, and enhance consultation on related law enforcement, administration, forests and climate change, the sustainable operation of the forest-related business and other regional and global issues concerning forests.

Li also suggested practical cooperation in maintaining and developing trade of forest products, promoting technological progress, strengthening protection of forest resources, boosting the development of non-wood forest products and carrying out study in such new areas as the utilization of biomass energy and forest and climate changes.

According to the official, the forestry industry plays an important role in economic and social development in China and ASEAN countries, as well as the ecological conservation and construction in the whole of Asia.

The industry also has proved to be an effective way for the realization of the United Nations millennium development goals and the slowdown of global climate changes, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2007)