January 24, 2025

The Honorable Secretary Bunch,
The Honorable Mayor Bowser,
Under Secretary Stofan,
Director Smith,
Distinguished guests,
Dear panda fans,

Good morning! It is a great delight to come to the “District of Panda” and witness the debut of Bao Li and Qing Bao together with all of you. Washington D.C. is no longer “unbearable”, and I believe all of you can “bearly” wait to see them!

Giant pandas are not just national treasures of China, but also a shining example of China’s ecological conservation. Some of them are superstars at zoos, growing up happily under the meticulous care of panda nannies. Some are enjoying a carefree life in their beautiful home village, having fun among verdant forests and lush waters. 

So far, China has set up 67 panda reserves, as well as a Giant Panda National Park spanning three provinces. Today, China’s wild panda population has grown to nearly 1,900, and the species has been downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable”. So these beloved bears are not only surviving, but also thriving. In recent years, quite a number of Chinese people had the pleasant surprise of coming across wild pandas, and their videos soon went viral on the Internet, cheering all panda lovers.

The bond between our two peoples and pandas started over half a century ago, even earlier than the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. As early as in 1972, the first pandas coming to the United States, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, made their home at the National Zoo. Since we launched the panda conservation cooperation program with the National Zoo in 2000, we have together bred four panda cubs: namely, Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Bei Bei and Xiao Qi Ji, trained more than 1,500 wildlife professionals, and achieved positive results in panda conservation and breeding, disease prevention and treatment, and technical exchanges. These are important contributions to protecting global biodiversity, and have also brought joy to numerous American families. As Bao Li and Qing Bao begin their 10-year journey in D.C., I believe our new round of panda cooperation will yield even more fruitful outcomes, writing a new chapter in promoting harmony between man and nature. 

Protecting pandas is protecting Mother Nature, and embracing pandas is embracing peace and friendship. The gentle and cute bears should not be demonized, nor should mutually beneficial panda cooperation be politicized. 

Some Chinese netizens commented that “There is nothing a panda cannot fix; and if there is, then let’s have two.” American friends told me that they are simply “biologically programmed to like giant pandas”. Our shared love for pandas has deepened my conviction that China and the United States have much more in common than what divides us. And whenever I think of what we have achieved on panda cooperation, I will feel more confident that as long as we work together, we can make big, great things happen, to the benefit of both our countries and the world.

In just five days, we will ring in the Lunar Year of the Snake. I believe that surrounded by love of panda fans from both countries, Bao Li and Qing Bao will surely enjoy a most joyful Chinese New Year in D.C. And I also wish all of you a happy, lucky and cuddly Year of the Panda with their sweet company!

Thank you very much.