BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- China is an important participant, contributor, and frontrunner in global wetland conservation and restoration, and its philosophy and practice of green development have been highly recognized and acclaimed by the international community, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday.

This year's World Wetlands Day, which falls on Feb. 2, is themed "Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage."

"Wetlands, forests and oceans are collectively known as the three major ecosystems of the Earth, and they are vital for human survival and development," spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press when asked to comment on China's achievements in wetland conservation.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has adhered to the philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and has made historic progress in wetland conservation and restoration, he said.

He noted that China is now home to the largest wetland area in Asia and the fourth largest in the world, and it has the highest number of internationally recognized wetland cities in the world.

As a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, China is an important participant, contributor, and frontrunner in global wetland conservation and restoration, Lin said.

Lin noted that China initiated the establishment of the International Mangrove Center, which now has 20 prospective member states, and it has carried out international cooperation on sharing knowledge on mangrove conservation in regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa.

China has also held international workshops on mangrove conservation and restoration to provide policy, technical, and management training for personnel from Global South countries, Lin added.

China has successively been awarded global environmental honors such as the Champions of the Earth Award and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, he said.

"Protecting wetland resources and addressing climate change remain an arduous task and a shared responsibility of the international community," Lin said.

China will continue to firmly promote a modernization in which humans and nature can coexist in harmony, firmly support and participate in global ecological governance, and work with all parties to build a community of all life on Earth, he said.  ■