A giant panda couple from China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will arrive in Spain next week, which is expected to further enhance the cultural exchanges and friendship between the two countries, a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday in Beijing. Addressing a regular press briefing, Wang Wenbin, the spokesman, said China and Spain have for several years worked together to promote giant panda protection, with six cubs successfully born and bred thanks to these joint efforts.
The China Wildlife Conservation Association said Wednesday that giant pandas Jin Xi and Zhu Yu will embark on their journey to Spain on April 29 from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province. They will start their 10-year residency at a zoo in Spain's capital, Madrid.
Wang confirmed the news at a regular press conference.
"In accordance with the agreement on international conservation cooperation and research of giant pandas signed between China and Spain, the giant panda couple from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinxi and Zhuyu, will leave for the Zoo Aquarium Madrid in Spain on April 29 for a 10-year stay to continue the 'panda friendship' between the two peoples for more than 40 years," he said.
The spokesman stressed that the cooperation on giant pandas is the epitome of the China-Spain friendship.
"Since China and Spain started international cooperation on giant pandas, six cubs have successfully been born and bred. Spain has achieved the most fruitful results in international panda breeding cooperation in Europe, and the two countries have improved a number of technologies such as panda protection and breeding, disease prevention and control. The 'giant panda craze' has also promoted cultural exchanges between the two countries and strengthened the friendship between the two peoples," said Wang.
The base has prepared special air transport cages to ensure the giant pandas can move, feed and rest freely, while a sufficient amount of fresh Sichuan local bamboo and bamboo shoots will be available for them to eat.
"China and Spain are actively and orderly moving forward with all preparations including quarantine, feed supply, medical support, transportation and the renovation of the museum. We will make every effort to ensure that the two pandas will arrive safely and healthily at Zoo Aquarium Madrid and adapt to the new environment smoothly. We believe that with the continuation of China-Spain cooperative research projects on giant pandas, the two countries will see further improvement on the protection level of endangered species and make positive contributions to biodiversity conservation," Wang said.
The male panda Jinxi was born on September 1, 2020, and the female panda Zhuyu was born on October 25, 2020.
The previous pair returned nearly two months ago after living in Spain for more than a decade.
New panda couple arrival to further enhance China-Spain cultural exchange, friendship: spokesman
