Giant panda Xiao Qiji is pictured at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 16, 2024. Xiao Qiji, male, was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States on Aug. 21, 2020. Unique to China and adored around the world, giant pandas have served as ambassadors of friendship that carry the goodwill of the Chinese people across borders. Since the 1990s, China has carried out joint protection research initiatives with 26 institutions from 20 countries. Generally, giant panda cubs born overseas are returned to China at a certain age. When returning from overseas, most of them will live in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas or the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)