Washington, DC - Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith G. Garber will travel to Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Tokyo, March 5–12, to meet with government counterparts and civil society leaders, support wildlife and ocean conservation, and promote science and technology cooperation.

On March 6–7, the Acting Assistant Secretary will be in Hong Kong to discuss with government leaders U.S. efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, including progress toward a near-complete ban on the domestic commercial trade in ivory. She also will meet with wildlife and ocean conservation activists. On March 8–9, she will lead the United States’ delegation to the first U.S.-Thai Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation since the signing of the U.S.-Thai Science and Technology Agreement in August 2013. On March 11, she will consult with senior Japanese government counterparts on climate change, ocean and wildlife conservation, and cooperation on other global issues as part of the preparations for Japan’s hosting of the G-7 meetings in May 2016.