KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia remains committed to ensuring sustainable forest management and is not a party to illegal logging in the region.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Anifah Aman made this statement during bilateral discussions with Barry Gardiner, Minister Responsible For Biodiversity, Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), United Kingdom in Putrajaya on July 27.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (KPPK) Tuesday, said that both sides had a fruitful discussion on matters related to the timber and palm oil industry and possible areas to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the context of promoting sustainable development.

Anifah hoped that with the discussions, the negative image of Malaysia on logging and palm oil production had been addressed and cleared.

"This could facilitate the entry of Malaysia's exports to the markets of the United Kingdom and other EU members," he said.

Among others the discussion touched on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Initiative by the European Union.

Malaysia informed of the progress made on a possible Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on FLEGT with the EU and expressed hoped that the EU will take into account Malaysia's concerns.

The statement said that Gardiner was of the view that Malaysia could play a leading role in the region on the issue of sustainable forest management.

-- BERNAMA