New pair of giant pandas make debut in South Australia

CANBERRA -- A new pair of giant pandas made their debut on Tuesday in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia (SA), following their arrival from China last month.

At the Adelaide Zoo in the capital of South Australia (SA), an affectionate welcoming ceremony was held for the public to meet the black-and-white duo in a bamboo forest, about 7,500 km from the pandas' hometown, Southwest China's Sichuan province, attended by officials, dignitaries and animal conservationists from both China and Australia a week ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said the Chinese values of harmony, inclusiveness and openness could be seen in pandas, which reflect the aspirations of the Chinese and Australian peoples for friendship and exchanges, and symbolize the profound friendship between the peoples.

Amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations, Xiao said, adding that he hopes the two adorable new pandas will live happily here, grow their family, and become new ambassadors to carry forward the friendship between the two peoples.

The pandas will spend the next 10 years at Adelaide Zoo, replacing the previous pair Wangwang and Funi, who returned to China in November after 15 years in Australia, drawing more than 5 million visitors.