Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region, has been recognized as an International Wetland City, a title granted under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Xizang Daily reported.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Lhasa is among nine newly accredited Chinese locations, bringing the nation's total to 22, more than any other country.

The other newly certified locations are Chongming in Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan province, Fuzhou in Fujian province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Jiujiang in Jiangxi province, Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, and Yueyang in Hunan province.

The recognition highlights Lhasa's sustained efforts in wetland protection and ecological preservation, particularly for the Lhalu Wetland, often referred to as "the lungs of Lhasa". Located in the heart of the plateau city, the wetland plays a critical role in regulating the climate, conserving water, supporting biodiversity, and improving air quality.