More than just cuddly creatures, pandas are serving as China's charming cultural ambassadors, boosting tourism both domestically and internationally.
A panda sanctuary in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality is welcoming visitors to meet its 23 furry residents, captivating both locals and tourists alike.
Visitors are flocking to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the famous twin pandas, Yu Ke and Yu Ai, and the newest addition, the charming cub Qi San Mei, born in June.
“(I love) both Yu Ke and Yu Ai,” said Huang Yi, a local tourist.
“I saw Qi San Mei on a short video platform. She is so cute that I came to take a look at her with my own eyes,” said Xu Sicong, another tourist.
“Pandas they are great animals. I see them on the TV. Now I'm seeing them live. I'm very excited,” said a U.S. tourist.
“I love pandas. They are so cute. I wish we could pat a baby. Is it possible?” said another U. S. tourist.
Meanwhile, visitors can indulge their love for pandas by purchasing cute panda merchandise or enjoying panda-themed snacks and drinks.
The fascination with pandas extends far beyond China's borders. In Moscow, the Chinese Fauna Pavilion, with its panda exhibit, draws in over 15,000 visitors daily, fostering cultural exchange and understanding.
Recently, Russia's own panda superstar, Katyusha, was spotted frolicking in the snow at the Moscow Zoo, melting hearts with her adorable antics
Moreover, the Chinese pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 used the undeniable charm of pandas to attract global attention, incorporating panda imagery into their decorations and marketing materials. WTM London is one of the world's most influential travel and tourism events.
Pandas shape China's global image, boost tourism
Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on Friday called on China and France to jointly promote multilateralism and cooperation.
Raffarin is currently in the Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, the second stop of French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday.
Macron's visit is a significant opportunity for the two major powers to rebalance bilateral trade ties, and also a chance for them to redefine a vision for global governance, Raffarin told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Noting that China and France are both peace-loving countries, Raffarin said they must work together to contribute to world peace and promote multilateralism. "France and China are peace-loving nations. The Chinese people have never waged a war outside their borders -- they have fought only when attacked. China can speak for peace, and so can France, which managed to make peace with Germany despite the many tragedies that occurred during three wars. We are peaceful peoples, and therefore we must contribute together to world peace," said Raffarin.
"Both China and France support a multilateral global governance system. We want to reform multilateralism because today's rules are still those of 1945. It has been a long time since the UN and other international institutions were created. They must be reformed and modernized, while preserving the ambition of multilateralism to uphold world peace. From this perspective, Sino-French cooperation is in the interest of both countries -- and also in the interest of the world and of global peace," he added.
Raffarin said he expects more cooperation between China and Europe, and called for China's support in ending the Ukraine crisis.
"We clearly need to make progress in China-Europe cooperation. We must also make commercial progress by increasing cooperation between our industries -- including more Chinese components in European products, and more European components in Chinese products. We have progress to make, but the path has been set by the two heads of state. A new path has been opened for more balanced development. And of course, what is very important is that a war is now being fought in Europe -- in Ukraine. We need China's peaceful engagement to help the world find a way toward peace, in this conflict as well as many others. Peace is at the heart of our commitments -- it is China's commitment, and it is also France's," said Raffarin.
Former French PM urges China, France to jointly promote multilateralism, cooperation
