The function of panda diplomacy
Peace Envoy
Since 1950s, China has promoted "panda diplomacy," on behalf of government and people has given a total of 23 giant pandas as national gifts to nine countries for maintaining good relations with them, such as the Soviet Union, North Korea, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and Mexico. Of which giving pandas to the late president Nixon during his visit to China in 1972 helped to reach a peak of "panda diplomacy."
These panda ambassadors enjoy "heads of state level treatment." Take the giant panda Ling Ling as example, after one of her baby's unlucky death in America, flags were hung at half mast in the Switzerland headquarter of WWF. And in 1982, in response to the global call of protecting the endangered animals, China stopped the practice of giving giant pandas to foreign countries, marking an end of the era when giant pandas are as "national gifts." The gifts-giving out of political purpose happens only at home.
Commercial counsellor
However, the giant panda's road overseas has not been cut off. For instance, in 1984, the Chinese government proposed a giant panda leasing program, which was, the countries who have intended to own giant pandas could pay to borrow them for short term, who then would pay a tour visit to the local zoos as commercial counselors. Also in 1984, on the eve of Los Angeles Olympics, China lent an American zoo a pair of giant pandas Yong Yong and Ying Xin from Beijing zoo to pay a tour visit in America, and the latter, within a short time of two to three months have gained profits up to millions of dollars. Since then the giant pandas have been to several countries in succession for tour visits such as Canada, Ireland, Sweden and Belgium.
1. Panda is China's national treasure, symbolizing and representing China.
2. Panda is also of certain political significance that can narrow the distances among countries, promote friendship and mutual development.
3. Panda is very gentle, and is symbolic of peace and solidarity.
4. Giving pandas to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as gifts is to promote cross-strait communication and strengthen people's solidarity.
5. "Panda diplomacy" is akin to the "ping pong diplomacy," is an important diplomatic approach for Chinese government.
As a representative of the world's endangered specie that under protection, in our opinions, the giant pandas are of scientific and ecological values, also of moral, ethical and other connotations. Mankind’s evolvement and progress of social civilization go along with and progress of the whole nature. Giant panda has existed on earth when human beings were early ancient apes. It is not the strongest of the species that survive, or the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. How have the giant pandas survived up till now? This has been a mystery. The value of the giant panda is inestimable in term of science. If this species are extinct, it would cost a lot for all mankind. For the world where we live, is not just of human beings. All the living things are exerting all of their powers for survival and procreation by searching for food and eating. But human beings still bear a mission to save the world.Human beings maintain infinite wisdom and creativity, so they need to constantly get training and pass on them. While we are admiring the human beings' great creations, we also need to consistently improve our quality and creativity. For example, we should protect the nature while we are developing and reconstructing it, for we have only one earth. It is a big family, in which everyone needs to live in harmony. Likewise, young people throughout the whole world should learn to protect giant pandas, and such practice can help them to learn the relationship between people and nature, as well as to realize the fact that saving the endangered species is to save ourselves. Therefore, we should use our wisdom on saving the earth and refusing wars and conflicts. Besides, we should live together with all the other living things on earth. We do hope people on this earth can be inherited one generation by another.
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