China has always attached great importance to the protection of endangered wild animals and plants and strictly fulfilled its international obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an official said Wednesday. 

Geng Shuang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo: mfa.gov.cn)

Geng Shuang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a routine press conference that with the Wildlife Protection Law at the core, China has developed a domestic legal and regulatory system, including the Forest Law, and the Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora.

“Since 2015, China has successively issued measures to stop importing ivory carvings, hunting ivory and prohibiting the commercial processing and sale of domestic ivory, which has been well received by the international community,” Geng said when he was asked about China’s stance to the Chinese 'Ivory Queen' smuggler being sentenced to 15 years in jail in Tanzania. 

The Chinese government has adopted a "zero tolerance" attitude toward participating in the illegal trade in endangered wildlife and its products, and has resolutely punished criminals.

The Chinese government has consistently required overseas Chinese citizens to comply with local laws and regulations.

“We do not protect the illegal activities of Chinese citizens and support the relevant departments of Tanzania to investigate and handle the case in accordance with the law,” he stressed.

China is willing to continue to contribute to the protection of endangered wildlife and the suppression of illegal trade, together with the international community, including Tanzania.

Geng also reminded Chinese citizens going to Africa to increase their awareness of law. “Do not buy or carry rare wild animal products such as ivory and rhino horns,” he added.

A prominent Chinese businesswoman dubbed the “Ivory Queen” was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Tanzanian court on Tuesday for smuggling the tusks of more than 350 elephants, weighing nearly 2 tons, to Asia, Reuters reports Wednesday.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.