Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

In response to an inquiry about the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ Union expressing their hope that China will lease giant pandas to Japan again, when talking with the Chinese side in Beijing during their recent visit to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that giant pandas living in Japan are loved by people there. When giant panda Xiang Xiang was about to return to China in 2023, many locals, reluctant to see Xiang Xiang leave, waited in long lines to say goodbye to her, said Guo.

Over the years, China and Japan have achieved good results in giant panda breeding, scientific research, technical exchanges and raising public awareness, said Guo. “We welcome Japan’s continuous interest in international cooperation on giant panda conservation and support for China’s giant panda conservation endeavor to jointly protect this special species. As far as I know, the two countries maintain close communication on relevant cooperation,” said Guo.

Global Times