At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, tiny panda cubs born in 2024 are exploring the world with curiosity, melting hearts with their playful demeanor and endearing appearance.
Footage captured at the base's Moonlight Delivery House offered a glimpse into the charming moments of these young creatures.
In one scene, a baby panda was taking slow, careful steps, with its round, fluffy figure resembling a sweet dumpling.
In another clip, an energetic bear practiced climbing down a tree, carefully moving its tiny paws in slow motion.
Most of 2024's panda cubs were born between July and September, meaning that these adorable little ones are still less than six months old.
Located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, 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 efforts in protecting and breeding giant pandas, red pandas, and other endangered wildlife exclusive to China, as well as for its educational outreach programs. It is now a major tourist attraction.
Adorable panda cubs capture hearts with clumsy charm
The renewal of the currency swap agreement between China and Nigeria will enhance bilateral trade and help strengthen Nigeria's local economy, said a Nigerian economist.
At the end of December, China's central bank said that it had renewed a bilateral currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The total value of the agreement is 15 billion yuan (about 2.09 billion U.S. dollars), or 3.28 trillion Nigerian naira, the People's Bank of China said in a statement.
The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed upon mutual consent, according to the statement.
The renewed currency swap agreement allows direct naira-to-yuan payments, cutting costs and easing the financial burden for importers like Martines Tochi.
For eight years, Tochi has relied on China for the supply of electrical cables, lighting equipment, and conductors.
Like many Nigerian traders, he once faced challenges in sourcing foreign exchange to pay suppliers
"Sincerely, we've been sourcing dollars from the black market. And we have been facing serious difficulties in sourcing them. Now, you're not going to source here in Nigeria, so it's a good development, a very good development to us," said Tochi.
Economists see this renewed agreement as a pathway to further strengthen the naira and expand bilateral trade.
"That's a very good opportunity for Nigeria to increase its trade volume with China, and it's one of the things that can help also, strengthen the local economy going by the kind of materials or goods that Nigeria imports from China -- electronics, machineries, equipment and what a view, which are essential for boosting industry, for enhancing the growth of our manufacturing sector and creating jobs in Nigeria at large," said Isaac Botti, an economist.
Nigeria is China's third largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade amounting to 22.56 billion US dollars in 2023.
Renewal of currency swap deal boosts trade between China, Nigeria: economist
