On Saturday, ITTC-53 concluded its final day of work. The Council heard the report of the Credentials Committee, heard pledges to the Special Account and the Bali Partnership Fund, and reviewed the session reports of the Committees on Economics, Statistics and Markets and Forest Industry (CEM-CFI), Reforestation and Forest Management (CRF), and Finance and Administration (CFA).

The Council elected Zhang Zhongtian (China) as Chair and John Leigh (Peru) as Vice-Chair of ITTC-54. to be held in November 2018 in Yokohama, Japan, and agreed to hold ITTC-55 in Lomé, Togo.

Delegates adopted decisions on: projects, pre-projects and activities; the ITTO Biennial Work Programme for the years 2018-2019; the Administrative Budget for the 2018-2019 Biennium; the extension of the ITTO Strategic Action Plan 2013-2018; amendment of Rules of Procedure and financial rules and rules relating to ITTO projects; ITTO Policy Guidelines on Gender Equality and Empowering Women; reconfirmation of further measures regarding the financial impairment; application of Article 30 of ITTA, 2006 (relief from obligations) to the Government of the Central African Republic; improving ITTO's financing infrastructure and fundraising strategies; and rotation in the framework of the selection of the ITTO Executive Director.

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