Ambassador Deng Hongbo noted that the friendly relations between China and the Free State of Bavaria have a long-standing tradition, and that practical cooperation across a wide range of fields has produced tangible and positive results. He described the giant panda as a “national treasure of China,” a messenger of friendship, and a symbol of peace. The conclusion of the panda conservation cooperation agreement, he stated, reflects the active contributions of both China and Germany to global biodiversity protection, while at the same time providing fresh momentum for friendly exchanges between China and Bavaria, as well as between the peoples of the two countries.

Minister-President Dr Markus Söder expressed his appreciation to the Chinese side for its close cooperation with Bavaria in the field of giant panda conservation and conveyed his great pleasure that Munich will become one of the few “Panda Cities” in Europe. He emphasised that the Free State of Bavaria attaches great importance to the development of relations with China and will continue to uphold a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, with the aim of further advancing the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between Bavaria and China.

Under the agreement, two giant pandas from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will be sent to Germany to initiate a ten-year programme of cooperation in giant panda research and conservation. In the next phase, both sides will work closely together to advance the necessary technical and organisational preparations.

• https://de.china-embassy.gov.cn/det/sgyw/202601/t20260123_11844200.htm