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<p>The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to protect endangered species.
I was delighted to co-host the London international Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Conference
on 11-12 October with the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
and International Development. We welcomed representatives from over 70 countries
including three Presidents (Uganda, Gabon, Botswana), two First Ladies (Kenya, Sierra
Leone), two Deputy Prime Ministers (Cambodia, DRC) and US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Discussions built coalitions between countries and the NGO and business communities
to treat the illegal wildlife trade as a serious and organised crime; and to close
markets for illegally traded wildlife. We will continue to work with our international
colleagues to drive forward action to tackle this abhorrent crime. Most recently,
I raised IWT with Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan
during a visit to Vietnam and encouraged progress on commitments around demand reduction
and law enforcement.</p>
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