By Anadolu staff
Belgium has returned three giant pandas to China, according to state-run media.
Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium held an emotional farewell ceremony where hundreds of people gathered before the pandas' departure to China on Tuesday, Xinhua News reported.
Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei will join the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province.
Tian Bao was born in 2016, while his younger siblings, twins Bao Di and Bao Mei, were born in 2019.
At the farewell ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao said that giant pandas are not only adorable and rare animals that bring joy to people, but also serve as a bridge that connects people's emotions and promotes cultural exchange.
Since they arrived in Belgium in 2014, the parents of the three pandas have captivated millions of visitors while raising awareness about the protection of giant pandas, according to the report.
The practice of China sending giant pandas to other nations as a diplomatic and wildlife conservation tool is known as "panda diplomacy."
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid