Ministry of Foreign Affairs： I hope the giant panda can better play the role of ＂envoy＂ of Sino-Japanese friendship.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 17 (Reporter Hou Xiaochen) Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lu Kang confirmed on June 17 that Xiang Xiang, a giant panda cub born in Japan, will be returned to China on a delayed date by mutual agreement between China and Japan.

Lu Kang said at a regular press conference on the same day that according to the Agreement on Cooperation between china wildlife conservation association and Tokyo, Japan for Joint Research on Giant Panda Protection, Xiangxiang, a giant panda cub born in Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, should have been returned to China when it was two years old. Now, with the agreement reached and signed by China and Japan, Xiangxiang’s return to China will be delayed for one and a half years until the end of December 2020. At present, the relevant agreement has come into effect.

Lu Kang said that the giant panda is a national treasure of China and a "messenger" to promote friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries. China is very happy to see that Xiangxiang has been taken good care of and received friendly hospitality during her stay in Japan. China can feel the Japanese people’s love and reluctance to give up from every detail. Now, at the request of Japan, China agrees that Xiangxiang will stay in Japan for a longer period of time. "We also hope that this decision will enable Xiangxiang to play a better role as an ambassador of Sino-Japanese friendship."