China Coast Guard launches law enforcement operation for Hainan FTP's special customs operations

The China Coast Guard South China Sea Branch launched a joint law enforcement operation with relevant departments on Tuesday at the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) to ensure its stable and orderly island-wide special customs operations, which is set to launch on Thursday.

The launching ceremony for the joint law enforcement operation was held in Haikou City on Tuesday.

The three-day operation is now taking place on the surrounding waters of Hainan Island.

During the operation, departments including the coast guard, public security and customs anti-smuggling will carry out targeted patrols and law enforcement activities on ports, docks, and vessels at sea. They will also carry out anti-smuggling publicity to boost maritime security.

"Through practical law enforcement actions, the joint operation aims to improve and perfect the joint prevention and control mechanism among all levels of coast guard institutions and relevant marine-related departments, comprehensively enhance the capabilities for preventing and combating maritime smuggling, responding to and handling maritime emergencies, and supervising and regulating marine production and operations," said Cheng Naiqin, an official of the Law Enforcement Department under China Coast Guard South China Sea Branch.

"We shall not only serve and guarantee the free flow of all kinds of factors to fully release the policy dividends of the FTP, but also crack down on all kinds of illegal acts in accordance with the law and effectively maintain a good maritime public security order," said Cheng.

China Coast Guard launches law enforcement operation for Hainan FTP's special customs operations

China will send a new pair of giant pandas to the Zoo Atlanta in the United States under a 10-year international conservation cooperation agreement, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association on Friday.

The association signed an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation with Zoo Atlanta in the United States last year, said a press release of the association.

Under the agreement, a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping (male) and Fu Shuang (female), from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, will travel to the United States to begin the 10-year cooperation program on giant panda conservation.

At a regular press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will enhance the friendship between the people of the two countries.

"The giant panda is China's national treasure and also serves as a bridge of friendship among peoples around the world," Guo told a press briefing, adding that it is believed that the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will make new contributions to promoting the health and well-being of giant pandas, improving the ability to protect endangered species, promoting global biodiversity conservation and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

China to send new pair of pandas to US for conservation cooperation