Officials from China and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) on Tuesday signed in Bangkok, Thailand,  a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve cooperation on China's forestry-related conservation work.

Under the document, described by both sides as a solid progress in long-term cooperation, the world largest conservation organization IUCN and China's State Forestry Administration (SFA) would meet within 90 days to specify activities to be carried out during the first year of the partnership.

Annual consultative meeting on forestry issues will be established so as to conduct bilateral informal and technical consultation, said the MOU.

The newly-inked material also set down guidelines for the principles, areas and ways of bilateral cooperation to improve China's forestry conservation.

"The signing of the MOU is a positive step in the right direction for the two sides' cooperation on related subjects," IUCN Asia Constituency Project Director Zakir Hussain said at the signing ceremony.

IUCN and China started cooperation some 20 years ago, focusing on forestry conservation activities, SFA's program officials told Xinhua.

With the Chinese government paying more attention to conservation issues, SFA has witnessed a boom of cooperation with international agencies and organizations in recent years, they added.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)