On April 16 local time, the National Zoo of the United States celebrated the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas in the United States. Qin Gang, Chinese ambassador to the United States, attended the event and delivered a speech. This is one of a series of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the giant panda program at the National Zoo of the United States.

On April 16 local time, the National Zoo of the United States celebrated the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas in the United States. The zoo prepared an iced fruit cake with the words “50th anniversary” for the giant panda. Photo by Li Zhiwei

Qin Gang said that the panda is a symbol of friendship. The success story of China and the United States in giant panda protection is a good example of China and the United States being able to cooperate together. Not only in terms of giant panda protection, China and the United States can also achieve more cooperation in many other fields, benefiting the Chinese and American people and people all over the world.

Qin Gang expressed the hope that China US cooperation on giant pandas will continue. Facts have proved that our cooperation in giant panda protection over the past 50 years has been fruitful. We hope that cooperation in this regard will continue. At the same time, giant pandas can also show the American public China’s achievements in biodiversity protection and wildlife protection. “So I hope the giant panda can continue to play an irreplaceable and unique role in China US relations and continue to bring joy to the American people.”

Qin Gang (right), Chinese ambassador to the United States, and brandy Smith, head of the Smithsonian National Zoo attended the event. Photo by Li Zhiwei

Brandy Smith, head of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo, said the giant panda has been the star and iconic species of the zoo for 50 years. The giant panda project shows how well Chinese and American scientists work together. In order to save dangerous species, scientists of the two countries work together. This is a successful cooperation story and an extraordinary friendly relationship.

On the same day, the zoo prepared an iced fruit cake with the words “50th anniversary” for the giant panda. The day’s series of celebrations also included Chinese culture booth, folk music performance and dragon and lion dance performance. The documentary “miracle Panda” filmed by the zoo for the “little miracle” of giant panda cubs also premiered in the zoo on the same day.

A large number of Americans participated in the celebration. Local people Karen Shilin and friends wore T-shirts with giant panda patterns. They were happy to take pictures of the pandas. Xilin said that she and her friends have been paying attention to the growth of giant pandas for a long time. She is glad that the giant pandas have arrived in the United States for 50 years. She is also glad to see that the protection of giant pandas has achieved fruitful results and the wild population of giant pandas has been growing. Local people Kristen said she was very happy to participate in the event. She likes pandas very much and looks forward to traveling to China.

In February 1972, then US President Nixon visited China. Premier Zhou Enlai announced that a pair of giant pandas will be given to the American people as a precious gift. Two months later, female giant panda “Lingling” and male giant panda “Xingxing” arrived at the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and were warmly welcomed by the American people. At present, there are three giant pandas living in the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo. They are “Meixiang”, “Tiantian” and their children “little miracle”.