China is looking forward to more cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to promote biodiversity protection, said a senior official at the 2012 ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum on Monday.

Li Ganjie, vice-minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said that biodiversity is one of the key aspects of the ASEAN-China environmental cooperation.

In October 2009, China and ASEAN adopted the China-ASEAN Strategy on Environmental Protection Cooperation (2009-2015), emphasizing the importance of the matter.

The forum, under the theme of biodiversity and regional green development, aimed to enhance the partnership between the two sides through discussions and information exchange among senior officials from China and ASEAN member countries.

Li said at the forum that the Chinese government attaches a great deal of importance to biodiversity protection.

Li added that the government has set up national-level organizations, and implemented significant projects such as reforestation and restrictions on animal husbandry to preserve grassland, as well as engaged actively in the formulation of international rules such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol.

He gave suggestions to develop more forms of cooperation between China and ASEAN member countries on environmental matters, and called for more information exchange and joint research.

The forum, which was held on Monday and Tuesday, was hosted by the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center with the help of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.