Panda pair debuts at Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo, receiving warm welcome

A welcoming ceremony for two Chinese giant pandas was held on Wednesday at Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo, one of the world's oldest zoos, marking the official start of their decade-long stay in Austria for scientific research and as ambassadors of friendship.

The pandas, male He Feng and female Lan Yun, arrived in Austria on April 23.

Addressing the welcoming ceremony, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen highlighted that giant pandas are a symbol of the strong friendship between Austria and China.

"Cooperations like these create trust. They bring nations closer together. We shouldn't underestimate the impact of these seemingly small occasions, despite all the differences that may exist. And the giant pandas are a symbol of the Chinese-Austrian [partnership]," said the president.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, who led a delegation to Austria from Sunday to Wednesday, also attended the welcoming ceremony.

"Like ambassadors, they will become mascots of friendship between the two countries and their peoples. The giant panda is a national treasure of China, a jewel in the diversity of the earth's species and a precious treasure of ecological civilization," Li said.

As part of the ceremony, the Schoenbrunn Zoo staged a traditional Chinese lion dance performance to celebrate the pandas' arrival, to the cheers of visitors. Among the crowds were dozens of local school children holding signs reading "warmly welcome" to demonstrate their love for the Chinese giant panda.

"It's a very nice moment today to welcome the bears in Austria in Tiergarten Schoenbrunn," said Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in an interview with the China Global Television Network.

The panda pair's arrival marks the latest 10-year round of the scientific collaboration between China and Austria on giant panda conservation, which started in 2003.

The past years of cooperation saw the birth of five panda cubs in Austria, a record for Europe on breeding, alongside achievements made in disease control, staff training and public education.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank, has renewed a bilateral currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye.

The total value of this agreement is 35 billion yuan (about 4.88 billion U.S. dollars), or 189 billion Turkish lira, the PBOC said in a statement on its website on Friday.

The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed upon mutual consent, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the two sides have also signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a yuan clearing arrangement in Türkiye.

These arrangements mark a new stage in China-Türkiye financial cooperation and are expected to facilitate the use of local currencies by enterprises and financial institutions of both countries for cross-border settlements, further promoting and facilitating bilateral trade and investment, the statement said.