China is ready to work with international partners to continue exchanges and cooperation in the protection of giant pandas and other endangered species, and make even greater contributions to global ecological conservation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a regular press conference on Thursday, in commenting on the arrival of two giant pandas at the Schonbrunn Zoo in Austria on Wednesday.
The pandas -- male He Feng and female Lan Yun -- started their journey from southwest China's Sichuan Province and their arrival marked the start of a decade-long stay as symbols of friendship between China and Austria.
"We learned that giant pandas He Feng and Lan Yun arrived at Schonbrunn Zoo in Austria on the afternoon of April 23, Beijing time, marking the start of a new round of China-Austria cooperation on giant panda conservation and renewing the 20-plus years of 'panda friendship' between the two peoples. As the first international cooperation project on giant panda conservation launched this year, China-Austria cooperation on giant panda conservation fully illustrates a sound cooperation mechanism built by the two countries and fruitful outcomes it has yielded," said Guo.
"Giant pandas are not only national treasure of China but also emissaries and bridges for friendship. Giant panda conservation is not only a shining hallmark of China's ecological conservation and a successful story of global wildlife conservation, but also instrumental in enhancing people-to-people friendship. China is ready to work with international partners to continue our exchanges and cooperation in the protection of giant pandas and other endangered species, and make even greater contributions to global ecological conservation," said the spokesman.
China to continue international cooperation in panda protection: spokesman
