4 more European countries to enjoy China's visa-free policy

China is to extend its visa-free policy to cover citizens of four more European countries starting from mid-October, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

"To further promote the people-to-people exchanges, China decides to extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport-holders of Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia. From October 15, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport-holders from the above countries will be exempted from visa to enter China for business, tourism, family visit, and transit purposes and stay for no more than 15 days. At the same time, we urge relevant countries to provide more visa facilitation for Chinese nationals," said Lin.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A giant panda was captured walking slowly in a pool, eagerly following a floating piece of apple, his playful persistence and clumsy attempts creating an amusing moment.

The footage was filmed at the No. 1 Giant Panda Villa of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

In the video, the giant panda made his way through a shallow pool of water, fixated on the floating snack. He kept attempting to reach the apple piece with his mouth while also using his paws to bring it closer. Despite repeated failures, his actions were both entertaining and adorable.

This foodie panda is named after a popular traditional Wuhan snack Reganmian(Hot Dry Noodles). Born on March 17, 2020 at the base, he and his twin brother Danhonggao(Egg Pancake), are the first captive twin pandas in the world.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a world-renowned institution for the conservation of giant pandas. The base is famous for its work in protecting and breeding giant pandas, red pandas and other endangered wild animals exclusive to China as well as its educational outreach programs. It is now a major tourist attraction.