(CN)On Giant Panda diplomacy

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/29/content_6968735.htm Panda

message make foreigners more aware of China

*www.chinaview.cn* <http://www.chinaview.cn/index.htm> *2007-10-29

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BEIJING, Oct. 29 -- Like the Great Wall that is unique to this country

the giant panda is another symbol of China.

 

As a living fossil, this bamboo-eating animal has taken on a special

mission of promoting people-to-people friendship between China and other

countries.

 

The four-year-old giant panda Mei Sheng's return from San Diego Zoo to

the country for mating reminds us of Ling Ling and Xing Xing. The two were

sent as a gift to the people of the United States when US President Richard

Nixon's visit to China broke the frozen relationship between the two

countries.

 

A total of 24 giant pandas have been sent as gifts to nine countries in

the decades since the 1950s. It is not inappropriate to call them envoys of

friendship as their lovable personas attract a lot of people.

 

Needless to say giant pandas have also made many foreigners, knowing

little about China, more aware of the country and its people.

 

The fate of the giant panda is a textbook in the change in relationship

between man and nature.

 

The dwindling of its habitats due to human activities once put this wild

animal on the verge of extinction. To prevent this from happening, nature

reserves have been established and research centers set up to propagate

their species through artificial insemination.

 

Concern over the fate of giant pandas has actually given a wake up call

to the entire nation to return from the ruthless exploitation of nature to

the reasonable use and protection of it.

 

Even the renting of giant pandas to foreign countries was once abused by

some for economic gain. It led to the rampant catching of them in the wild,

thus depleting their numbers.

 

Now the renting of giant pandas is primarily for the purpose of research

and reproduction. The return of Mei Sheng for mating is an example of

successful cooperation between the San Diego Zoo and its counterpart, the

Wulong Nature Reserve.

 

Hopefully, giant pandas and their worldwide popularity will arouse more

people's attention to the fact that there must be a harmonious balance

between man and nature.

 

(Source: China Daily)