Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with representatives from the People’s Republic of China regarding the closing of domestic ivory markets.

The UK has engaged in a number of discussions with representatives from the People’s Republic of China about trade in ivory and the need to tackle illegal wildlife trade. The UK-China Joint Statement from President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK in October 2015 “recognised the importance and urgency of combating the illegal wildlife trade.”

On 21 September Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, Dr Thérèse Coffey, met a delegation from the People’s Republic of China including Dr Liu Dongsheng, Vice Minister of the State Forestry Administration. Discussions included the ivory trade and Dr Coffey welcomed China’s announcement to close its domestic market in ivory.