The three giant pandas that have been kept in the 20-hectare Madrid Zoo Aquarium will remain there for another five years until 2023, thanks to a new agreement recently signed between China and Spain.

Queen Sofia of Spain, accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Spain Lyu Fan, presided over the signing of the agreement extending a loan and conservation project for the giant pandas.

The Madrid Zoo Aquarium is a famous establishment, one of the oldest zoos in the world, having been established in 1770.

Two giant pandas - Bing Xing and Hua Zui Ba - arrived at the zoo in September of 2007, thanks to a 10-year cooperation agreement between the two nations. Their female cub, Chulina, was born on Aug 30, 2016.

Lyu Fan highlighted the role that the pandas have played in bringing the people of the two countries closer.

"Pandas are considered the national treasure of China and they represent the good friendship and the high-level cultural exchange between China and Spain," the ambassador said.

The extension of the agreement and the attendance of Queen Sofia highlighted Sino-Spanish friendship on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Lyu said.

He expected the friendship between Spain and China would "grow tall like bamboo and be everlasting".

Jesus Fernandez, the representative of Madrid-based Parques Reunidos, which operates the zoo, said conservation projects and collaboration among zoos globally have managed to change the panda's preservation status from being endangered to vulnerable.

He also expressed gratitude to Queen Sofia for "the support, affection and concern" shown to the animals over the last four decades.

This year also marked the 40th anniversary of the first arrival of giant pandas to Spain.

The Madrid Zoo Aquarium received its first pair of giant pandas from China in 1978. In 1982, a baby panda named Chulin, was born, which was the first of its species to be born by artificial insemination in the West.

Xinhua

(China Daily 11/28/2018 page6)