Experts say China's progress in wetland conservation against the backdrop of rapid economic expansion and urbanization is a source of inspiration for the rest of the world, especially other developing countries.

"As a densely populated country undergoing fast economic development, China has faced many complicated environmental problems and come up with many innovative solutions," said Lei Gang, a senior advisor with the World Wide Fund for Nature. "Other developing countries can learn from China's experience and lessons."

Vincent Cohen Barugahare, an official with Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, suggested that wetland conservation could be a promising area of cooperation between China and other countries.

Barugahare visited wetlands in Qinghai Province, from which China's biggest rivers originate, during a cooperation program on wetlands conservation. He said the Chinese initiative of moving residents out of the conservation areas for better protection also applied in Uganda.

"Apart from cooperating in other development areas, like industries, we should cooperate in conservation. I think that's a good direction," Barugahare said at the Geneva session of COP14.