New giant pandas make their public debut at San Diego Zoo in California
- Yun Chuan, a five-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a three-year-old female, are expected to draw large crowds as the first new pandas to arrive in the US in more than 20 years
The public debut of two giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday capped a months-long diplomatic odyssey to secure the first new pandas to arrive in the United States in more than 20 years.
In a proclamation, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared Thursday “California Panda Day” and called the arrival of Yun Chuan, a five-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a three-year-old female, testament to the “long history” of collaboration between California and China in pursuing “shared goals”.
Beijing’s ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, joined Newsom at the ceremony in San Diego.
“China-US cooperation on panda conservation will not cease, our people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation will not stop, and once opened, the door of China-US friendship will not be shut again,” Xie said.
Newsom, speaking after Xie, said the event was about “something much deeper, much richer, than just the two beautiful pandas we celebrate”.
“It’s about celebrating our common humanity.”
