STORY: Giant pandas stand witness to friendship between China, France
SHOOTING TIME: File
DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:32
LOCATION: CHENGDU, China
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of China 
2. various of giant pandas
3. various of French Catholic priest Pierre Armand David
4. various of France
5. various of giant pandas abroad
6. SOUNDBITE 1 (French):  ANTOINE LECLERC, Zoo Veterinarian
7. SOUNDBITE 2 (French):  VERONIQUE PATRICE, Panda fanatic

STORYLINE:

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The giant panda, which was discovered by a French priest some 155 years ago in southwest China's Ya'an, marked the beginning of enduring China-France ties.

Since the founding of New China in 1949, China began presenting giant pandas as "goodwill ambassadors" to friendly countries.

In 1964, China and France established diplomatic ties. In mid-September 1973, then French President Georges Pompidou visited China. During the exchange of gifts, the Chinese government gave a pair of giant pandas, Li Li and Yen Yen, to France.

Since 1985, China has stopped gifting giant pandas to any other country, and pandas are only sent abroad through lease contracts.

In 2012, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, born at a breeding base in China's Chengdu, arrived in France's Beauval Zoo on a 10-year loan.

In 2017, they gave birth to Yuan Meng, marking the first birth of a giant panda in France. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): ANTOINE LECLERC, Zoo Veterinarian
"We were well supported by the teams from Chengdu who came when he was born to help us. They stayed here for six months to support us."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): VERONIQUE PATRICE, Panda fanatic
"I like seeing him rolling in the mud. Where there's fresh earth, he rolls in it."

According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China currently has more than 50 giant pandas living around the world, with four living in France.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chengdu, China.
(XHTV)