Adorable giant panda cubs have been seen cheekily climbing onto mother's back at a research base in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Their fun interaction was filmed at Wolong Shenshuping Base and Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).
One video, taken on March 7, features panda mother Mei Mei calmly lying on the ground as her cub playfully climbed over her body. Mei Mei, born at the center in July 2018, is the offspring of Cao Cao, a wild panda who successfully mated in the wild.
In a separate video filmed on March 11, two mischievous cubs attempted to clamber onto their mother Yi Ran who managed to escape from them, leaving the cubs tumbling playfully onto the ground. Yi Ran was born in July 2012 at the center.
The CCRCGP is a world-leading institution for the breeding and conservation of one of China's national treasures. The center has also established a global platform for promoting international cooperation and exchanges involving 18 zoos from 16 countries and regions, as well as 39 domestic animal breeding institutions and more than 10 scientific research institutes.
Playful giant panda cubs captured on video at Sichuan research bases
China will formulate more effective laws and regulations in 2026, covering key areas, emerging fields, and foreign-related domains, Minister of Justice He Rong said in an interview in Beijing on Thursday.
Legislative efforts will focus on four fronts this year to ensure that the rule of law aligns more effectively with reform, development, and stability, while better upholding social fairness and justice, the minister said after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
"Firstly, we will improve the business environment by formulating regulations for building a unified national market. Efforts will be made to address issues of concern, such as local protection, the imposition of improper market access restrictions, and rat-race competition," said the minister.
"Secondly, we will promote sci-tech innovation. Artificial intelligence has become a 'buzzword' at this year's two sessions. In 2026, we will accelerate research on legislation in fields such as artificial intelligence and the law-altitude economy, revise the Road Traffic Safety Law and formulate regulations on airspace management," He said.
"Thirdly, legislation will place greater emphasis on safeguarding people's livelihood and promoting common prosperity, aiming to meet the public's growing demand for better legal protections in areas such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation. This year, administrative regulations will be formulated and implemented concerning water supply, pharmaceutical administration, road transport management, and housing safety," the minister said.
"Fourthly, we will strengthen services to advance high-level opening-up. We will advance the formulation of laws and regulations related to trade, investment, and customs clearance facilitation," the minister said.
The "two sessions," or the annual sessions of the NPC, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, concluded on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.
China to strengthen legislation in key sectors, emerging fields, foreign-related domains: minister
