Seized elephant tusks are displayed by customs authorities in Hong Kong in October. Ivory smuggling has fallen due to strict law enforcement in China in recent years. [Photo/China Daily]

John E. Scanlon, secretary-general of the Secretariat of the CITES organization, spoke highly of China's work. It's not just China's responsibility, he said. Other countries need to take responsibility for their own plants and animals and take measures to protect them.

"We need support from source, transit and destination countries," Scanlon said. "China has been dealing with it responsibly as a destination country, showing great leadership through customs and other enforcement departments.

"Source and transit countries should do the same, taking their responsibility seriously and doing what they can. We are in this together."