The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched in Siem Reap cultural province this evening. The grand event, organised at the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Archeological Park, was presided over by Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, a Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, and visiting H.E. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Around 500 Chinese delegates, including Chinese artists and tourists attended the launching ceremony showcasing cultural exchanges through performing arts, dance, and music. It does not only reflect a firm friendship between Cambodia and China but also serves as an indication of Cambodia as a safe country for visitors, especially Chinese tourists. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet is optimistic that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will become a new an d better opportunity for Chinese tourists and investors in Cambodia. In his congratulatory message for the exchange year celebration, the Premier said the celebration will also promote exchange among youths and young leaders towards a Cambodia-China community of shared destiny. The message also highly valued the energetic and visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the deeply rooted relationship between Cambodia and China spanning over two thousand years. Guided by the wisdom of Cambodia's late King Norodom Sihanouk and former Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia's stand to cherish and further expand the relationship between Cambodia and China, including the country's firm support for China's One Belt, One Road initiative. He continued that 2024 is not only the year of people-to-people exchange between Cambodia and China but also between ASEAN and China, and all parties will mutually benefit. He called on concerned mini stries, institutions, authorities, and armed forces at all levels, as well as the public, private sector, and other stakeholders, to actively and responsibly participate in the celebration of the Year of Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange for the whole of 2024. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse Hanoi: 2023 marked a significant milestone for the forestry sector as Vietnam successfully sold 10.3 million forest carbon credits (10.3 million tonnes of CO2) for the first time through the World Bank (WB) for 51.5 million USD, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri. The sale was part of the Emission Reductions Payment Agreements (ERPA) in the north central region signed on October 22, 2020 between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the WB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). In early August 2023, the WB paid the first ERPA instalment of 41.2 million USD to the Vietnamese ministry, or 80% of the contract. The remaining 10.3 million USD will be paid after the transfer of 10.3 million tonnes of CO2 is completed. The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund has received and disbursed all the first payment so that six north central provinces can urgently make payment plans for forest owners. In addition to the number of credits sold, the WB has confirmed the emission reduction results of the entire north central region in the first period (January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019), reaching 16.21 million tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to 16.21 million credits). Deputy Minister Tri also said that 2023 was a struggling year for the forestry industry, including supply and demand chain disruptions affecting trade, logistics problems, and climate change. However, he acknowledged the sector's efforts to overcome difficulties in the past year to achieve remarkable results. In 2024, he suggested that the forestry industry promptly issue appropriate policies and mechanisms to facitiate its development. According to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, the country planted about 250,000 hectares of forest last year, surpassing the yearly plan by 2%. The forest coverage rate was 42.02%, matching the target. Total revenue from all forest environment services reached more than 4.1 trillion VND (169 million USD)./. Source: Vietnam News Agency