As part of the ongoing horticultural expo in Xi’an, about 80 representatives from 20 countries and regions in East, South and Southeast Asia gathered in Xi’an on May 9 for a workshop on updating national biodiversity strategies and a comprehensive action plan.

Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and the secretariat of the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity, the workshop discussed how to seek ways of carrying out a Convention on Biological Diversity and establishing national strategies. Efforts have also been made at the workshop to improve the current members’ ability to frame, execute, evaluate, and update their biodiversity strategy and action plan.

The national biodiversity strategy is one of the means by which members carry out the convention. Until now, among the 193 member countries and regions, 173 have made first-grade National Strategic Plan of Action and 37, including China, have renewed their plans. Currently, China is propelling the province-level Plan of Action.

Those in attendance at the workshop agreed that the ongoing horticultural exposition in Xi’an fully shows China’s achievements on biological diversity protection.