Seoul mayor seeking another giant panda for city after Fu Bao's departure

Seoul's mayor is working towards bringing another giant panda to the city following Fu Bao's departure to Sichuan Province, China.

Fu Bao enjoys her bamboo at Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan Province in China on June 12, when she had her first public debut in China. [NEWS1]

Seoul's mayor is working towards bringing another giant panda to the city following Fu Bao's departure to Sichuan Province, China.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed his intention to work towards bringing pandas to the capital during his meeting with Tian Xiangli, the head of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on Monday.

"I hope the provincial leader could help resolve [the issue of sending pandas to the city] despite it being the authority of the central government," Oh said.

The head of the CPPCC Sichuan Provincial Committee said she would deliver the Seoul mayor’s wish as soon as she returns to the province.

Monday’s meeting came as this year marked the 10th year of Seoul and Sichuan Province becoming friendship cities.

Oh also hoped that the giant panda Fu Bao, who recently returned to Sichuan Province, would play a "diplomatic role in fostering exchanges between the two countries."

Fu Bao, whose name means “treasure of good fortune," was born on July 20, 2020, at Everland in Yongin, Korea, to parents Le Bao and Ai Bao, pandas sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in March 2016 as a symbol of friendship between Korea and China. She was sent to China on April 3 according to Chinese policy, which mandates that foreign-born pandas return to China before turning four years old.

Following the superstar panda's tearful departure, the city of Daegu also requested China send a pair of pandas to its Daegu Grand Park, which is slated for completion by 2027. In his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo made the request, to which the ambassador reportedly said he would actively engage with the central government to send pandas to Korea.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]