China has been constantly stepping up its efforts to protect its wildlife resources with notable results in recent years, according to an on-going international symposium in Chengdu.

To date, China has set up more than 900 natural protection zones across the country, taking up about seven percent of the nation's land, the symposium was told.

In areas where protected zones are not sufficient for the survival of some species, artificial propagation and planting has been implemented, saving quite a number of endangered species.

To regulate international trade in wildlife and products, China has published catalogues of wildlife imports and exports, categorically banning the trade of tiger bones and rhinoceros horns.

Moreover, China's customs and public security departments have beefed up their efforts to crack down on illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, according to Meng Sha, deputy director of the country' management office for endangered-species trade, today.

China also has joined a host of international conventions such as those on wetlands and bio-diversity, and has hosted a series of international meetings on wildlife protection.

Last month, an international workshop on the protection of the Tibetan antelope was held in Xining, the capital of northwestern Qinghai Province.

The country has also adopted the "Xining Declaration" which calls for the further protection of the Tibetan antelope and stipulates harsh penalties for poachers and illegal traders.