Tibet has been emphasizing the importance of ecological protection — a tradition from the past — and it has been playing a crucial role in stabilizing the global climate, water supply and biodiversity, Qi said.

Lhachung, a professor of ecology at Tibet University, said the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the globe's biggest, highest-altitude, youngest plateau, and is known as the rooftop of the world.

"Low oxygen, low temperature, low air pressure, temperature upheaval, strong ultraviolet rays, wind, snow, and dry all describe the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," Lhachung said.

"The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the world. Taking the example of plant life, with 189 families, 1,500 categories and 15,000 species, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of China's places with the most modern plants."