Xinhua News Agency, Washington, April 16. Newsletter: Join hands to protect giant pandas and jointly care for the Sino-US friendship – the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo celebrates the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas in the United States and the Giant Panda Program
Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Ding Hu Yousong
Giant panda cub “Little Miracle” (right) and mother “Mei Xiang” enjoy frozen fruit cakes at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, the United States, on April 16.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
Early in the morning on the 16th, the less than two-year-old giant panda cub “Little Miracle” began to act coquettishly to its mother “Meixiang”. , rubbed and rubbed, until the girls’ attention was attracted by a frozen fruit cake decorated with the number “50”.
This cake was specially made by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas in the United States and the zoo’s giant panda program. The ingredients are all giant pandas’ favorites – dilute apple juice and pineapple juice, and then freeze them to make embryos. Garnish with sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, sugar cane, bananas and bamboo.
Under the “mother and son”, the cake quickly “beyond recognition”. “Little Miracle” seems to have a soft spot for carrots, while “Meixiang” is not a picky eater at all. The onlookers watched the “eating and broadcasting show” with great interest, and at the same time took out their mobile phones to take pictures and record videos. The scene was full of laughter and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy.
On April 16, at the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo in Washington, the United States, giant panda cub “Little Miracle” (right) and mother “Meixiang” are together.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
Brandy Smith, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Institute of Zoo and Conservation, said in his speech that over the years, China and the United States have maintained good communication in the conservation of giant pandas and jointly save endangered species. The best proof of close cooperation is also the messenger of friendship connecting the two peoples.
In February 1972, when the then US President Nixon visited China, China decided to give the giant pandas to the US as a precious gift. On April 16 of the same year, the female giant panda “Lingling” and the male giant panda “Xingxing” arrived in the United States and then stayed at the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo in the northwest of Washington, the capital of the United States.
On April 16, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, the United States, spectators photographed giant panda cub “Little Miracle” and mother “Meixiang”.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
Fu Limin once accompanied Nixon to China as an interpreter, and was later assigned by the U.S. State Department to accompany the Chinese delegation that escorted giant pandas to the United States. Recalling the scene, he told reporters that it was a big deal for the zoo to receive giant pandas, and they were so new to Americans. “Giant pandas are cute and lovable,” Freeman said. “They’re a symbol of a new beginning in China-U.S. relations.”
For many years, “Lingling” and “Xingxing” were the most popular animals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo, until their deaths in the 1990s made many giant panda fans in the United States very sad and lost. In 2000, “Mei Xiang” and the male giant panda “Tian Tian” went to the United States.
On April 16, the giant panda “Mei Xiang” (right) enjoys a frozen fruit cake at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, USA.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
With the joint efforts of both parties, “Meixiang” gave birth to 4 healthy giant panda cubs during her stay in the United States. “Little Miracle”‘s older brother and sister “Taishan”, “Baby” and “Babe” were all sent back to China at the age of 4, and the older “Taishan” and “Baby” already had their own offspring. Under the careful care of the staff, the aged “Mei Xiang” and “Tian Tian” are still in “perfect” health, and “Little Miracle” is even more amazing – the weight has almost reached half of “Mei Xiang”.
Qin Gang, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, said when attending the celebration that over the past 50 years, China and the United States have made gratifying achievements in cooperation on giant panda conservation and research. The number of giant pandas has increased from a few hundred 50 years ago to more than 1,800 at present. They have successfully taken off their hats as “endangered” and set an example for the protection of biodiversity on the earth. This also proves that the joint efforts of China and the United States can accomplish great things that are beneficial to the world.
On April 16, at the Smithsonian Institution National Zoo in Washington, the United States, giant panda cub “Little Miracle” (right) and mother “Meixiang” are together.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
On April 16, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, the United States, spectators photographed giant panda cub “Little Miracle” and mother “Meixiang”.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
On April 16, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, the United States, tourists experience writing the Chinese character “giant panda” with a brush.Xinhua News Agency
[Editor in charge: Yan Yujie]