JINAN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- An international bird-watching event kicked off on Saturday at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, where birdwatchers were thrilled by spectacles of flocks of wild birds skimming low over the water's surface.

"We celebrate China's growing leadership in biodiversity conservation, ecological civilization, and the creation of the national park," said Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, at the opening ceremony of the bird-watching event.

Attending the third "Following the Yellow River to the Sea" Yellow River Estuary International Bird-Watching Season, James Fitzsimons, senior advisor of Global Protection Strategies of the Nature Conservancy, emphasized that China's efforts in coastal wetland protection hold significant global importance.

"The Yellow River Delta is recognized globally as a critically important site for bird conservation, supporting both breeding populations and birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway," he said.

Data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration show that four out of nine major migratory bird flyways worldwide pass through China. Protecting bird habitats and migration routes in China is crucial for the survival and reproduction of bird populations globally.

Wang Xiufeng, vice mayor of Dongying, told visitors that local authorities have actively promoted comprehensive ecological governance, resulting in the number of bird species rising from 187 to 374 in recent years, with over 6 million birds now breeding and resting in the area annually.

"If we look at the pages of migratory birds here in China, compared to shorebirds in Australia, you can see that most of the species are the same," Fitzsimons said.

"What is particularly inspiring is the collaborative model being championed here. A model that unites government authorities, local communities whose lives are intertwined with this land, dedicated research institutes, and many other organizations. This synergistic approach is not just beneficial. It is essential," he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wang Haizhong, president of the China Wetlands Association, said that China has set up over 2,200 wetland protection areas, including 82 Wetlands of International Importance, known as Ramsar sites, 80 nationally important wetlands, and 22 international wetland cities. With over 53.33 million hectares of wetland areas under protection, China has created the largest wetland conservation system in Asia.