Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on more efforts to protect wildlife resources and further raise awareness of biodiversity conservation throughout society on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, saying that biodiversity is an important basis for the survival and development of human beings and the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature.

In recent years, China has formulated and implemented a series of policies and measures for the protection of biological diversity, which have achieved remarkable results, Li added.

The premier also stressed the importance of building up a nature reserve system with national parks as its main body.

China aims to set up a batch of national parks and form a unified management system by 2020 with an aim to connect fragmented habitats and improve the management and conservation of wildlife.

Pilot projects are underway for 10 national parks, including one in Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai, which is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.