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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation in Beijing International Book Fair 2024

The Kingdom's pavilion was widely visited by the Chinese public - SPA
The Kingdom's pavilion was widely visited by the Chinese public - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Concludes Participation in Beijing International Book Fair 2024

The Kingdom's pavilion was widely visited by the Chinese public - SPA
The Kingdom's pavilion was widely visited by the Chinese public - SPA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the Beijing International Book Fair, where it was the guest of honor this year, which was held from June 19 to 23.
The Kingdom's pavilion was widely visited by the Chinese public, being the highlight of the exhibition. Visitors would learn about Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through an integrated cultural experience, SPa reported.
The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission led the effort; various other cultural entities took part, like the Heritage Commission, the Culinary Arts Commission, the Fashion Commission, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the Saudi Publishing Association, and the Ministry of Investment.
The Saudi pavilion played a significant role in fostering cultural dialogue and introducing the Saudi culture to the Chinese public through a cultural program that included 15 dialogue sessions.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China had a special pavilion at the exhibition, to emphasize the importance of cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.
Moreover, several agreements were signed between Saudi and Chinese book publishers, including a cooperation agreement that is part of the Tarjem Translation initiative, entailing translating into Arabic the books "The Forbidden City: A History of China Since the Fifteenth Century" and "Historical Tales of the Great Wall of China".

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Thousands Bid Farewell to Tokyo Zoo Pandas Before Return to China

Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
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Thousands Bid Farewell to Tokyo Zoo Pandas Before Return to China

Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)

Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China, Agence France Presse reported.

Sporting T-shirts, hats and sun umbrellas featuring the black and white bears, visitors shed tears, took selfies and eagerly waved at Ri Ri and Shin Shin on the panda couple's penultimate day at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens.

More than 2,000 panda lovers formed long queues outside the zoo Saturday morning, some having spent the whole night there armed with picnic blankets and camping chairs.

Among the most committed was Mayuko Sumida, 44, who said she had arrived around 10 pm the previous night, carrying with her panda-shaped key rings.

"I'm overwhelmed," she said after admiring the two for the last time.

"They are the best duo that brings comfort and smiles to me."

The mammals are immensely popular around the world, and China loans them out as part of a "panda diplomacy" program to foster foreign ties.

The pandas Ri Ri and Shin Shin arrived at Ueno Zoo in 2011 and were due to stay until February 2026, but Japan and China agreed it would be better for the 19-year-olds to return to their home country in light of their declining health.

They will be transported back to China on Sunday.

- 'Emotional support' pandas -

On Saturday, strict crowd control measures were in place at the zoo to escort fans away after giving them just a few minutes to adore and photograph the pair through the glass.

Ri Ri and Shin Shin were "like the sun to me" and "always gave me emotional support,” Machiko Seki, who like other fans wore black to avoid window reflections ruining their pictures, told AFP.

"When I look at their smiles, whatever worries me just goes away... I can't be more grateful for them," the woman in her 50s said, shedding tears.

The pair gave birth in 2017 to cub Xiang Xiang -- the zoo's first baby panda since 1988, who became a massive draw -- as well as twins in 2021.

Many fans cried when Xiang Xiang was returned to China last year, and her departure was broadcast live on local television.

Michiyo Matoba, 61, has been coming to see Xiang Xiang's parents almost every week.

"Ri Ri loves climbing trees so I hope he will enjoy those mountains of China as much as he likes, and the glutton Shin Shin will hopefully start eating to her heart's content after regaining her health,” she said.