On November 26th, the 2024 Global Panda Partner Conference, themed “Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Nature,” was held in Chengdu, Sichuan. More than 380 experts and scholars from over 30 countries attended the conference, discussing topics such as ecological civilization, panda culture, and Chinese and foreign tourism. They explored new approaches to green development and advocated for a new future of ecological civilization.

The purpose of this conference was to explore a scientific path for global panda partners to prioritize ecological protection and green development. This was achieved through keynote speeches such as “Biodiversity Conservation and a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind,” as well as cultural exchange and cooperation dialogues on giant pandas. During the conference, panda and wildlife conservation experts, embassy and consulate officials in China, panda enthusiasts, green development practitioners, and panda partners gathered in the hometown of giant pandas to discuss innovative approaches to green development and promote a future of ecological sustainability.

The giant panda is a symbol of peace and international cooperation. In 2016, the twin giant pandas “Qiqi” and “Dian Dian” became the world’s first pair of animal ambassadors for the United Nations Development Programme, exemplifying the active use of the giant panda’s image. Achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is an ongoing journey. The 2024 Global Panda Partner Conference represents a significant effort to use pandas as a medium to promote environmental protection and foster international exchange and cooperation.

China’s efforts in constructing the Giant Panda National Park and other initiatives align closely with UNESCO’s commitments to environmental sustainability and reflect China’s ecological civilization philosophy, with biodiversity as a crucial pillar. As one of the earliest signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity, China has established the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and facilitated milestone achievements such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Remarkable progress has been made in the conservation of giant pandas in China. The habitat protection system is becoming increasingly robust, with the wild population growing to approximately 1,900. Sichuan continues to enhance the living environment of giant pandas and promote high-quality development of the Giant Panda National Park, which now encompasses the world’s largest and most complete panda habitat. Nearly 75% of the panda population thrives there. As one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, China is accelerating modernization efforts for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, providing new opportunities and momentum for giant panda conservation.

As a flagship species for biodiversity conservation, the protection of giant pandas extends beyond the pandas themselves to include rare and endangered species in the same habitat. Under the “umbrella” of giant pandas, more than 8,000 co-existing wild animal and plant species, including Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys, snow leopards, paulownia trees, and Chinese yew trees, have also been effectively protected.

Beyond giant pandas, China actively strengthens exchanges and cooperation with other countries on various species. For example, in the successful conservation of the crested ibis, China supported Japan and South Korea in cooperative breeding efforts, providing assistance in germplasm, technology, and personnel training. This has significantly improved the population status of the crested ibis in these countries and stands as a successful example in global wildlife conservation, earning widespread acclaim from international treaty organizations and the global community.

The 2024 Global Panda Partner Conference aims to deepen think tank research and provide comprehensive services around pressing environmental protection themes. It will continue to support international ecological cooperation through the Global Panda Partner Conference and related initiatives, fostering collective efforts to build a shared community of life on Earth.