Deputy Secretary Zoellick at the Panda Research and Conservation Facility

Chengdu, China
January 26th, 2006

DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK:  I’m very glad you all had an opportunity to join us here coming to the Panda Research and Conservation Facility.  For over thirty years, pandas have been a very practical symbol of the conservation relationship between the United States and China.  And I emphasize practical because as you know there are four zoos in the United States – Washington National Zoo, Atlanta, San Diego and Memphis – that have pandas – have giant pandas – and they contribute to the expansion of the wildlife and the generation projects here in China. 

This also is a wonderful opportunity to expand the conservation opportunities among NGOs.  Before returning to government I was on the national advisory council of the World Wildlife Fund, which of course uses the panda as its symbol.  I heard from the director about the important involvement of Conservation International and others.  I’m very delighted to meet two Americans that are here as part of the project, including focusing on conservation education, which this facility is starting to expand to help people throughout China and the world understand the importance of conserving these endangered species.  This also involves NGOs within China, which is a wonderful development. 

It is particularly wonderful to come to Sichuan Province, because this is also an issue of habitat preservation and development, and Sichuan is the real home of the giant and the red pandas.   The real benefit is, as many of you know, we have a new young panda in the Washington National Zoo, Tai Shan, and it is extremely hard to get tickets to even go see the new young panda.  So I thought I would circumvent the line and come here, and not
only did I get to see them but I got to hold a young panda.  So as the Chinese New Year starts, I feel very fortunate.

Thank you.  Xiexie. 

SENIOR ADVISOR: Does anyone have a question or two?  No?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK: Do you want to know how the panda felt?  Very soft.  Thank you.