Chinese and Finnish cities use pandas to foster relationship

Giant pandas have played a critical role in linking Dujiangyan, the precious species' major habitat in Southwest China's Sichuan province, with Ahtari in Central Finland. That connection has recently created a deeper relationship between the two cities.

The story of Dujiangyan and Ahtari can be traced back to a State visit of China to Finland in April 2017, when top officials of both countries agreed to carry out joint research on the giant panda and make it an ambassador of their friendship.

Ahtari is home to Finland's largest wildlife zoo.

In January 2018, a pair of giant pandas, named Hua Bao and Jin Baobao, were transferred from their dens in the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda to Finland. They were placed in the Ahtari Zoo, and designated to stay there for 15 years as part of a joint research program.

It was the first arrival of Chinese pandas in the Nordics, where Finland is located.

It was also the first contact between Dujiangyan and Ahtari, which paved the way for a long journey of friendly exchanges.

The giant pandas offer an opportunity for people in Ahtari to learn about the Chinese city with rich natural and cultural resources, including an ancient irrigation project that can be dated back to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

Dujiangyan also has long-standing Taoism culture, one of China's three major philosophical traditions, and Mount Qingcheng, one of the four most famous mountains of Taoism in the country.

In March 2018, mayors of the two cities signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of friendly cooperative relations to become twin cities.

Since then, the two cities have discussed tourism, culture, education and environmental protection. The new friendship cities found similarities in their tourism resources and cities' respective positioning.

In July 2018, the youth football team from Dujiangyan was invited by the Finnish city to attend a friendly match in Ahtari.

In the same month, a delegation from Ahtari visited Dujiangyan to attend a week-long music show held in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan. At the festival, the Band "Rsynukke" (which means "rag doll") from Ahtari staged a wonderful performance.

On Jan 17, 2019, Dujiangyan met with Ahtari again as the two cities joined hands to attend the Matka Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki, capital of Finland.

Two days later, Dujiangyan set up its overseas promotional office of Finland in Ahtari, which aims to make the Chinese city widely known in the Northern European country and promote mutual understanding between residents of the two cities.

During their stay in Finland, the delegation from Dujiangyan, accompanied by the mayor of Ahtari, paid visits to state and private tourism organizations and travel agencies to diversify their outreach.

The delegation from Dujiangyan also held a cultural performance in Ahtari to display the Changing Face, a subgenre of Sichuan Opera, and Qingcheng-style tai chi, which left deep impression on the local people.

In February 2019, to mark the anniversary of the giant pandas' visit to Ahtari, officials in Dujiangyan made videos of special blessings for the bears.

In the same month, when Dujiangyan applied to become a famous tourism destination in Sichuan, it received a warm support letter and a video from Ahtari government.

As time goes on, the intimate story of the two cities is expected to enter a new chapter.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/25/2019 page24)