JINAN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has made remarkable achievements in avian conservation, with stable population growth observed in multiple endangered bird species, according to an ongoing meeting on migratory bird conservation in Dongying City, east China's Shandong Province, between a joint working group from China, Japan, Australia and the Republic of Korea.

The four countries participating in the meeting, which is being held in Dongying from Monday to Friday, share the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and have a long history of cooperation on the protection of migratory birds.

Species exhibiting stable population growth include the Siberian crane, the Baer's Pochard, the Saunders's gull, the Chinese crested tern and the crested ibis.

Over the last five years, the Chinese government has been consistently intensifying its avian protection efforts. The number of protected bird species in the country has since increased by nearly 50 percent, with 394 species now designated as key, nationally protected species, and another 1,028 categorized as species with important ecological, scientific or social value, according to the meeting.

The development of a protected-area system focusing on national parks is advancing steadily. The Sanjiangyuan National Park and the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park were among the first five national parks established under the system, and they serve as crucial breeding grounds for migratory birds.

China has continued to strengthen its protection and restoration of migratory flyways, as well as its construction of a monitoring system. It has designated 1,140 migration-route avian habitats as "important," and begun comprehensive protection and restoration work on 821 key sites.

Chinese authorities have been conducting a specialized campaign to combat the illegal trade of wildlife for six consecutive years. Aimed at safeguarding ecological security by stopping the illegal hunting, trade and transport of wildlife, it has resulted in a notable drop in both wildlife crime and the number of perpetrators. ■