Mozambique and South Africa have decided to combat poaching by setting up a joint Defense and Security Commission, local media said on Friday.

The two neighboring states underline that rhino poaching must be considered a priority crime for joint operations.

Demand for rhinoceros horn has led to an upsurge in the slaughter of the species in Mozambique and South Africa.

Citing figures from the South African National Parks, the Mozambique News Agency (AIM) said poachers have killed 341 rhinos this year, compared with 333 in 2010.

South Africa has become a target for international poaching rings, because it has the largest rhino population in the world.

The country has 2,000 black rhinos and 19,000 white rhinos.

The rhino horn is used as s a component in Asian traditional medicine.

According to AIM, the joint commission decided that "a Technical Committee must be formed to finalize a strategy to protect wildlife."

This committee should be up and running by February 2012, and report on progress to the next meeting of the Defense and Security Commission.

The commission also stressed the need for joint operations between South Africa and Mozambique against other crimes, including the theft and smuggling of vehicles, stock theft and the smuggling of illicit goods such as firearms.

The commission recommended that the sharing of intelligence and information be strengthened in order to curb drug trafficking and determine the routes and trends followed by traffickers.