An International Wetland City refers to a city that, in accordance with the procedures and requirements stipulated in the resolutions of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, is nominated by the government of a member state and approved by the Independent Advisory Committee for the Certification of International Wetland Cities of the Ramsar Convention, and is issued a certification certificate for "International Wetland City". Taking the opportunity of creating an International Wetland City, Suzhou has comprehensively improved the city's wetland ecological protection level and led the construction of ecological civilization.
The 64th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention held in January 2025 reviewed and approved the new certification applications of 9 cities including Suzhou. Changshu was recertified for its continuous efforts in wetland protection.
Through the latest round of certification, China's International Important Wetland City Certification Program now includes 22 cities in 16 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions). Jiangsu Province now has 3 International Wetland Cities, ranking first in the country. This expanding network shows that urban wetlands play an important role in building a sustainable and resilient society.