Giant panda "Xiao Xiao" Photo: VCG

1月21日,外交部发言人郭嘉昆主持例行记者会。会上有外媒记者提问称：最后两只旅日大熊猫将于下周返回中国。中日有关租借协议将于本月到期,中方是否有意延长该协议？如果中国不向日本租借新的大熊猫,这对两国双边关系意味着什么？

On January 21, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun presided over a regular press briefing. A reporter asked, given that the last two giant pandas loaned to Japan will return to China next week, does China intend to extend the relevant leasing agreement after it expires by the end of the month - as well as what it would mean for bilateral relations if China does not loan new pandas to Japan?

郭嘉昆对此表示,据了解,按照中日有关协议,旅居日本东京上野动物园的大熊猫"晓晓"和"蕾蕾"将按期于2026年2月前返回中国。具体问题请向中方的主管部门进行询问。我们知道在日本有一大批大熊猫的粉丝,我们欢迎日本民众来中国看大熊猫。

Guo Jiakun said that, in accordance with the relevant China-Japan agreement, giant pandas "Xiao Xiao" and "Lei Lei" at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo are scheduled to return to China before February 2026. For specific arrangements, he advised that inquiries should be directed to relevant Chinese authorities. China is aware that there is a large community of panda fans in Japan, and China welcomes Japanese people to come to China to see giant pandas, Guo said.