¡¡BANGKOK, Oct. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The 166 member states of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) will gather in Bangkok on Saturday to discuss ways to protect the world's most threatened species.

    The conference, scheduled to be held on Oct. 2-14, will update the trade rules governing some of the world's most charismatic, exploited and economically valuable wildlife species.

    It is of vital importance as trade in this field worth billionsof dollars and covers more than 350 million plant and animal specimens every year, according to organizer of the conference

    Some 50 proposals on the regulation of trade in rare or endangered animals and plants are set to be discussed at the upcoming meeting.

    It will also highlight species that need trade protection afterbecoming threatened through over-harvesting, pollution and habitatdestruction.

    Thailand plans to propose Irrawaddy dolphins, which are close to extinction, to be added on the list of most endangered species.

    It also wants the convention to remove local hybrid orchids andcrown of thorns from the list to help boost its trade and exports of these flowers, the Thai News Agency quoted Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti as saying on Friday.

    Held every two or three years, this year's CITES debate is expected to focus on whaling and the ivory trade.

    Around 2,500 people will attend Saturday's meeting. Among them will be government representatives, wildlife specialists, plant experts, biologists and international green groups.

    Aimed at protecting wild marine and terrestrial species from over-exploitation, the 29-year-old Cites is regarded as one of themost effective of all international wildlife conservation treaties.Enditem