Belgium: Panda twins Bao Di and Bao Mei in Belgium celebrated their 4th birthday at the Pairi Daiza Zoo, one of the few zoos outside of China to have hosted five giant pandas simultaneously. Their birthday was celebrated on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Both the giant panda twins Bao Di and Bao Mei were treated to a lavish meal to celebrate their fourth birthday. As the zoo owner, Eric Domb, celebrated their birthday. He received the original copy of a reply letter from the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.
The Ambassador of China to Belgium, Cao Zhongming, handed the letter to Domb, who has visited the country of China over 20 times. Earlier in June, Domb had received a copy of Xi’s reply.
The zoo owner stated that he was touched by this heartwarming gesture of the President and was happy to receive the original letter.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan attended the opening ceremony of the giant panda garden at the zoo in 2014. This event celebrated the incredible work of the zoo in preserving and protecting endangered species of giant pandas.
Earlier this year, President Xi responded to a letter from a conservationist, expressing his commitment to protecting endangered species worldwide. This exchange demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and collaboration to face global challenges.
The celebration of the Panda’s birthday is of utmost significance as they are among the few giant pandas in Belgium. Giant pandas Xing Hui and Hao Hao live at Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo. Hao Hao gave birth to a panda cub named Tian Bao on June 2, 2016. The name means “Treasure of Heaven” in Chinese, symbolising the Belgians’ love for the panda.
Last year, Panda twins Bao Di and Bao Mei celebrated their 3rd birthday at the Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium on August 6, 2022. The zoo prepared a cake for them, and Chinese and Belgian musicians played the “Birthday Song” together to express their blessings. The pandas have witnessed China-Belgium relations’ development, bringing the Belgian people happiness.
