Scanlon congratulated China on the extraordinary achievements the country has made during his tenure in office over the past six years.

At the meeting, an exhibition showcasing what China has done in recent years in implementing the CITES obligations was jointly launched by the State Forestry Administration (SFA) of China, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC.

SFA Deputy Administrator Liu Dongsheng, who is also head of the Chinese delegation, Executive Director of TRAFFIC Steven Broad and Scanlon, along with more than 120 people from CITES national delegations, international organizations and the media participated in the event.

Broad congratulated the Chinese delegation on many achievements China has made in implementation of CITES since COP16.

He said the exhibition highlights China's work in protecting endangered species and also maintaining stable development.

Liu said that as the largest developing country, China has been firmly performing obligations of CITES, improving domestic legislation, enhancing law enforcement, combating traffic crimes, raising public awareness, strengthening capacity building and carrying out cooperation.

He added that the photo exhibition aims to enhance the understanding of China among the international community and push forward the CITES implementation toward strengthening trade regulations and supporting sustainable development.

The exhibition features photos and posters outlining the legislature, organizational restructuring, trade management, law enforcement and monitoring, capacity building, public engagement and international collaboration undertaken by authorities in China. Launched on September 26, it will run through to October 5 on the ground floor of the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg.

CITES is a legally binding agreement which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The CITES COP17 is the largest event in CITES 43 year history. Over 2,500 representatives from more than 180 governments, intergovernmental organizations, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and businesses attend the meeting.

Launched on September 24, the CITES COP17 will end on October 5.