India, Malaysia agree to cooperate on environment, climate

India and Malaysia today agreed to strengthen their bilateral strategic partnership in the area of environment and climate change.
During their meeting here, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Malaysia's Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri G Palanivel emphasised the need to work closely in the domain of international negotiations so as to protect the interest of developing countries.
Both the sides discussed the possibility of cooperation in the areas of technical exchange for forest bio-diversity conservation with the focus on the following issues DNA finger-printing of wildlife animals, sustainable forest management, production forestry, strengthening forest-based livelihoods, e-waste management, river cleaning and water conservation etc, an official release said.

Possibilities for enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of climate change and watershed management were also discussed, it said.
Speaking on the occasion, Javadekar said India was committed for cooperation in climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC, where both the countries belonged to the Like Minded Developing Countries group and needed to coordinate with each other so as to ensure that the developed countries did not shift the emission burden on the developing countries.
The minister said that a concerted stand was required on the global climate change negotiations.
On the bio-diversity conservation and promotion, Javadekar said that Indian white tiger may be exchanged for famous Malayan Tapir.

Appreciating India's efforts in the areas of climate change and watershed management, the Malaysian minister expressed his willingness to enhance technological cooperation, the release said.