Wild giant pandas in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, have been caught on infrared cameras recently going about their daily lives.
One panda peeks around a tree, while another sniffs a rock before rubbing its furry body against it to leave a scent mark.
The Mianyang section of the Giant Panda National Park is home to 418 wild giant pandas, accounting for 22.4 percent of China's wild population of the lovely animal — the highest number nationwide.
Playful wild giant pandas caught on camera in Sichuan
As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a Chinese international affairs expert cautioned that a lasting peace remains elusive unless fundamental disputes over territory and security guarantees are addressed.
The Chinese expert's remarks came after U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday in efforts to revive Ukraine peace talks. They are also scheduled to visit Kiev the following day.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt strikes on each other's capital during the U.S. envoys' visits.
Teng Jianqun, a prominent Chinese international affairs expert, noted that the current geopolitical climate presents a genuine, albeit fragile, window of opportunity for peace.
"Looking at the current situation, this is indeed a window of opportunity. Since February of this year, the United States has primarily focused its attention on dealing with Iran. Now, six months later, Washington is once again urging a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, signaling that the U.S. has readjusted its strategic focus. In terms of battlefield dynamics, fighting on the frontline has become highly deadlocked. Therefore, it is a critical moment now for both sides to pause and negotiate a resolution to this conflict," said Teng.
Teng added that the U.S. has maintained communication with both Moscow and Kiev, which lays a necessary foundation for discussing a potential ceasefire.
However, the expert warned that significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty and the security guarantees that Ukraine demands.
"Given the current situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expecting Russia to withdraw, or asking Ukraine to accept a 'land for peace' plan, are both unacceptable to either side. Therefore, the core issue remains to be territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, Ukraine's security guarantees represent another fundamental concern. If these two basic issues are unresolved, I believe the conflict will continue," said Teng.
Expert warns U.S. unlikely to end Ukraine crisis without resolving core issues
