Giant pandas have been seen enjoying themselves in typically fun fashion, from munching down some specially-prepared snacks to engaging in playful leisure activities at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center in Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
In recently released video footage, giant panda Zhuzhu was spotted happily chewing away on a carefully designed meal made by panda keepers. The gourmet feast featured delicious bamboo shoots which had also been 'skewered' with some crunchy carrots, adding an extra bite to the panda's favorite food.
Born in the year 2000, Zhuzhu is the oldest female giant panda at the research center, and has successfully given birth to seven cubs, the most of any panda mother at the center.
The footage also recorded the amusing antics of another giant panda Qiji, who was caught playing by some trees, including swinging some bamboo around by a tree trunk and later embarking on a courageous climbing adventure. Seated high among the branches, the fearless panda was seen clinging on with one paw while casually scratching an itch with its hind leg.
Established in 2018, the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center is a leading breeding and research base for the giant panda, and the only one located outside of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The center focuses on the Qinling giant panda, a sub-species first recognized in 2005 which lives in the Qinling Mountains, a natural boundary demarcating north and south China. The Qinling giant panda has a smaller and rounder skull, shorter snout and less fur than the more familiar Sichuan subspecies, as well as a distinctive brown and white colored coat.
The research center is also home to "Qizai", the world's only captive brown panda, who was born there in 2009.
Pandas enjoy gourmet meal, fun leisure activities at Shaanxi research base
Pandas enjoy gourmet meal, fun leisure activities at Shaanxi research base
Chinese envoy on Wednesday expressed support for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) to continue fulfilling its mandate, advancing the Colombian-led and Colombian-owned peace process, and providing vital assistance to Colombia in achieving peace and development.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the statement when speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the Colombian situation at the UN headquarter.
UN secretary-general's special representative for Colombia and head of the UNVMC Carlos Ruiz Massieu said that Colombia had achieved some milestones as it celebrated the eighth anniversary of a landmark peace deal. However, violent incidents earlier this year resulted in dozens of deaths. He emphasized the need for Colombia to strengthen the government's presence in remote areas, as the peace agreement remains central to achieving lasting peace in the country. He called on the international community to continue its unwavering support for this process.
Geng expressed hope that in the new year, all parties in Colombia will remain steadfast, united, and committed to writing new chapters of peace, reconciliation, and progress. Geng put forward three key expectations: achieving new progress in improving the security situation, advancing dialogue and reconciliation, and making new achievements in implementing the peace agreement.
"We support the Colombian government's efforts to increase security deployment to effectively deter violent activities, stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, ensure the safety of people's lives, alleviate the local humanitarian crisis, and strengthen protection for former armed personnel, ethnic groups and vulnerable groups such as women and children," said Geng.
Geng noted that the current peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) have encountered setbacks. China hopes that both sides will resolve their differences through dialogue and resume negotiations at an early date, and expects that the Colombian government's peace talks with other armed groups will remain unaffected, he said.
China commends the Colombian government, under the leadership of President Gustavo Petro, for prioritizing the implementation of the peace agreement in its governance agenda and for its efforts in areas such as rural reform and the reintegration of former armed personnel into society, Geng said.
China also calls on UN agencies, as well as international and regional partners, to continue supporting Colombia in consolidating the achievements of the peace process, he said.
Recently, armed clashes have continued between Colombia's main anti-government armed group, the ELN, and former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the Catatumbo region, northern Colombia.
According to data from the Colombian Ombudsman's Office, the conflict has displaced 36,000 people. Petro on Monday declared a state of internal commotion.
FARC, once Colombia's largest anti-government armed group, signed a peace agreement with the government in 2016, disarmed the following year, and transitioned into a political party.
However, some FARC members refused to disarm and formed splinter groups. The ELN primarily engages in drug trafficking and other criminal activities along Colombia's Pacific coast and border regions. On Friday, the Colombian government announced the suspension of peace talks with the ELN once again.
China reaffirms support for Colombia's peace process
China reaffirms support for Colombia's peace process
China reaffirms support for Colombia's peace process
