China's panda pair hits road to US

Two Chinese giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao embarked on their journey to the United States early on Tuesday morning from a breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, starting their 10-year residency at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C..

Chinese and American experts will cooperate and join hands to ensure the well-being of the two giant pandas at the National Zoo.

Bao Li and Qing Bao departed from the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) and reached Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on Monday evening. They then boarded a special plane headed for the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. early on Tuesday morning.

The China Wildlife Conservation Association and CCRCGP held a farewell ceremony for the two giant pandas on Monday afternoon.

Bao Li, a male panda whose name translates into English as "treasure" and "energetic," was born in August 2021. Qing Bao, a female panda whose name means "green" and "treasure" in Chinese, was born a month later than Bao Li. The two giant pandas have lively personalities and enjoy climbing.

The CCRCGP has dispatched two keepers and a veterinarian to the National Zoo to assist the pandas in swiftly adapting to their new environment in the United States.

Furthermore, experts from both China and the United States have conducted various tasks to ensure a healthy life for Bao Li and Qing Bao at the National Zoo.

The Chinese experts have conducted multiple assessments in the United States regarding the living environment, breeding management, food security, and health care for the giant pandas.

Based on the suggestions of the Chinese experts, the National Zoo has upgraded the enclosure for the giant pandas, ensured a stable food supply of bamboo and bamboo shoots, established a professional breeding management team, formulated comprehensive breeding management systems and technical standards, reinforced regular health monitoring reports and on-site inspections, and enhanced the zoo by renovating facilities such as lawns and pools while adding additional climbing structures.

In early October, the National Zoo dispatched four keepers and veterinarians to China to take part in breeding management and disease prevention efforts for the two giant pandas.

Over the past 24 years of cooperation between China and the United States in giant panda conservation, both countries have achieved positive results in various fields concerning giant panda conservation, including breeding, disease treatment, technical exchanges, personnel training, and public awareness of wildlife protection. They have successfully bred and raised giant pandas Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Bei Bei, and Xiao Qi Ji.

The cooperation has played a positive role in enhancing the conservation capabilities of wild giant panda populations and has substantially promoted cultural exchanges between the people of the two countries.

China's panda pair hits road to US

China's panda pair hits road to US

Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.

Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.

More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.

Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.

"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.

During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.

"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.

In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.

With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.

"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.

Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition