Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — Giant panda Katyusha, born in August 2023 at the Moscow Zoo, is a symbol of friendship between China and Russia and the professionalism of specialists from the two countries, Moscow Zoo Director General Svetlana Akulova said in Beijing on June 13.
As reported by the newspaper Zhongguo Qingnian Bao /China Youth Daily/, S. Akulova made this statement while participating in a meeting dedicated to the organization and implementation of bilateral museum projects between Moscow and Beijing. The event was organized by the Moscow government with the assistance of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing and the support of the People’s Government of Beijing.
In April 2019, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, giant pandas Ruyi and Dingding arrived in Moscow. In August 2023, their cub, panda Katyusha, was born at the Moscow Zoo.
“This was an important event,” said S. Akulova. She said that the name Katyusha was chosen based on the results of an online vote in which 300,000 people took part. The giant panda Katyusha has attracted numerous followers on social networks, and many Russians are eager to visit the Moscow Zoo to see her.
She added that experts from China and Russia regularly exchange data to ensure the good health of giant pandas, and the Moscow Zoo takes full responsibility and provides them with careful care.
“The Moscow Zoo is a party to more than 70 agreements on the protection of rare animal species and hopes to work together with Beijing to protect the golden snub-nosed monkey,” said S. Akulova.
S. Akulova also put forward the initiative to create a “World Alliance of Zoos”, stating that environmental protection tasks require a review of the relevant work.
The Moscow Zoo hopes to enter into an alliance with the Beijing Zoo, said S. Akulova, adding that cooperation with China will be an important step towards strengthening new international partnerships.