The Honorable Sonny Perdue,

Ms. LaChandra Burks,

President Raymond King,

Deputy General Secretary Li Linhai,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Good morning! It gives me great joy to come to the beautiful city of Atlanta, and join you in celebrating the inauguration of the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove at Zoo Atlanta.

In September, President Xi Jinping successfully paid a historic state visit to the United States, during which he announced the great news that Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, a new pair of giant pandas, would soon come to Zoo Atlanta. Three days later, the two envoys flew across the Pacific and arrived at their new home. This has injected fresh momentum into China-U.S. giant panda cooperation, and also opened a new chapter in the friendship between our two peoples.

Now, there is one Chinese ambassador in D.C., but Atlanta alone boasts two “panda envoys”, who are both much “weightier” than me. Across the United States, there are six superstar “panda envoys” in total, more than in any country outside China. Having these hefty colleagues on board to promote goodwill between China and the United States certainly gives me a shot in the arm!

The arrival of the new pair of pandas marks the renewal of a decades-long bond between China and Zoo Atlanta. In 1999, giant pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang became the first panda residents at Zoo Atlanta. Under the meticulous care of the team here, they gave birth to a total of seven cubs across five litters in 25 years, including two pairs of twins, creating the most successful breeding record in China-U.S. giant panda cooperation.

Now, this latest round of cooperation is a natural continuation of that family lineage, as Ping Ping is here to take up the baton from his uncle Yang Yang, his mother’s elder brother. Thanks to this special bond, Ping Ping has settled in quickly, feeling right at home. Meanwhile, Fu Shuang is the daughter of a celebrity, as her father is no one else but the real-world inspiration behind Po, the main character of Kung Fu Panda 2. I am confident that Fu Shuang will be just as popular as her “Dragon Warrior” father, and will bring even more happiness to everyone meeting her!

The arrival of the new pair of pandas is China’s sincere response to the aspirations of the American people. For years, “pandamonium" has swept through Atlanta, across the State of Georgia, and throughout the United States. Love for pandas is everywhere we turn: Atlantans have a tradition of donating fresh bamboo from their yards to pandas, and the zoo even set up a Bamboo Hotline. Anyone whose bamboo is selected as “Panda Exclusive” will become the pride of their neighborhood. That love also reaches sky-high: the FedEx Panda Express carrying Ping Ping and Fu Shuang was once the most-tracked international flight in the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all friends who have long supported giant panda conservation cooperation. It is your enthusiasm and dedication that have turned people’s dreams into reality, and brought pandas across the Pacific for a joyful gathering.

The arrival of the new pair of pandas is a vivid testament to practical subnational cooperation between China and the United States. The State of Georgia is a blessed land known for its openness and inclusiveness. It is the home state of President Jimmy Carter, who, with extraordinary political courage and vision, made the historic decision to establish diplomatic ties with China, and called it one of the most correct decisions he had ever made in his life. His Excellency David Perdue, current U.S. Ambassador to China, is also from Georgia.

Coca Cola based in the state returned to the Chinese market in the early days of China’s reform and opening-up, and has ever since been deeply involved in our country’s development. Today, its products have become a sweet companion of numerous Chinese households. Other local business leaders, such as UPS, the Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines, see China as a core strategic market too. Remaining the No. 1 state for business in the United States, Georgia is also a top choice for many Chinese investors. I believe the new pair of giant pandas will instill fresh vitality into practical cooperation between China and Georgia, including the city of Atlanta, and will usher in a new phase in China-U.S. subnational engagement.

The arrival of the new pair of pandas is the latest outcome of our joint efforts to implement the two Presidents’ consensus on deepening people-to-people exchanges. Giant panda conservation cooperation is an integral part of China-U.S. relations and cultural exchanges. Over the past three decades and more, with the personal commitment of both heads of state, the full support of both governments, and the collaboration between researchers in both countries, pandas in the United States have successfully bred and raised 17 cubs, and panda cub survival rates have been raised to over 95%. This has not only forged more bonds of affinity between our two peoples, but also contributed a joint China-U.S. solution to global biodiversity protection, thus serving as a compelling example of how China and the United States working together can get a lot of big and great things done.

The two sides need to seize the momentum created by the arrival of the two pandas, continue to act on our Presidents' important consensus, expand the list of cooperation while shortening the list of problems, and actively foster friendship between our peoples, so as to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness, and reciprocity with concrete action and promote its sustained development.

Dear friends,

As the homeland of giant pandas, China always keeps its doors open. We warmly welcome more American friends to travel to China, to witness our environmental protection efforts among green mountains and rivers, taste the delicious Chinese cuisine, and feel the hospitality of the Chinese people. Today, from “China Travel” to “China Cool” and to “China Haul”, our dynamic country is attracting more and more tourists from around the world. I encourage you to embark on a journey to China, see a real China through your firsthand experience, deepen mutual understanding through exchanges, and build trust through reaching out to each other, so as to write more beautiful stories of friendship between Chinese and American peoples.

Dear friends,

The names of the new pair of pandas carry our warmest wishes to the American people and also for China-U.S. relations. The name of Ping Ping (literally “peace”) embodies our hope for lasting peace of both countries and happiness for both peoples, while the name of Fu Shuang (literally “double happiness”) conveys our expectations for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the United States and boundless blessings for all. We trust that, under the loving care of Zoo Atlanta, the two pandas will eat heartily, sleep soundly, and grow healthy and strong in their new home, bringing twice the joy and happiness to everyone who loves them.

In closing, I wish today’s ceremony a great success. Happy Pandas’ Day!