China hopes for Xiang Xiang’s role for friendship with Japan

June 18, 2019

Beijing--A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has expressed hopes that female giant panda Xiang Xiang at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo will continue to help promote China-Japan friendship following a recent decision to extend her stay in Japan.

"We hope this decision will further enable Xiang Xiang to play her role as an envoy of friendship," Lu Kang told a press conference on Monday.

"Giant pandas are China's national treasure and 'envoys' for friendship between China and other countries," Lu said.

"We are glad to see the tender care and warm hospitality Xiang Xiang has received in Japan," he said, adding, "We feel from every little detail how much the Japanese people adore and cherish her."

Xiang Xiang turned two years old last Wednesday. She was initially slated to be handed over to China two years after birth, based on an agreement between the country and the Tokyo metropolitan government.

But China has recently agreed to extend her stay in Japan by 18 months until the end of 2020. Jiji Press