STORY: "Bye-bye Fan Xing!" -- Giant panda born in Dutch zoo leaves for China
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:25
LOCATION: THE HAGUE, Netherlands
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the festive farewell ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HANS VAN DER PAS, Mayor of Rhenen
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MARCEL BOEKHOORN, Ouwehands Zoo owner
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ROBIN DE LANGE, Ouwehand Zoo CEO
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): YOUNES, Pupil with Dalton School Rhenen
6. various of Fan Xing-related footage (Courtesy of Ouwehands Zoo)

STORYLINE:

More than three years after her birth, giant panda cub Fan Xing received a festive farewell ceremony on Wednesday in the Netherlands, and left for China. 

Fan Xing was born at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, the Netherlands -- the first giant panda cub born in the country. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HANS VAN DER PAS, Mayor of Rhenen
"It was a warm welcome when Fan Xing was born three years ago, and we followed everything, her steps, her first steps. We followed everything about Fan Xing."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MARCEL BOEKHOORN, Ouwehands Zoo owner
"Let's be honest. She was so lovely, beautiful one. And now we are all sad she leaves today. But we hope she will have a great life in China. We will miss her for sure."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ROBIN DE LANGE, Ouwehand Zoo CEO
"For the transport, there were a lot of preparations. Security is important. Of course the transport must be good. We did it together with China Air Cargo. It's a very professional company and they will fly Fan Xing to Chengdu. But I think everything is well-prepared and everything will be okay."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): YOUNES, Pupil with Dalton School Rhenen
"I live around here, so I came many times to see him. The first time I saw him was like half my size, but now he is two times my size. I hope he has a good life in China."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from the Hague, Netherlands.
(XHTV)