"I've been coming to watch them since they were born, Nene Hashino, a woman in her 40s wearing a panda-themed jacket and clutching a bear stuffed toy, told AFP. It feels like my own children are going somewhere far away. It's sad."
"According to the relevant agreement between China and Japan, the giant pandas who were living in Japan, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, today began their return trip to China, said Guo Jiakun, China's foreign ministry spokesperson. As always, we welcome the Japanese public to come see giant pandas"
Hundreds of people gathered to bid farewell as panda twins Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao were transported by truck out of Ueno Zoological Gardens, their birthplace. The four-year-old pandas have long attracted devoted Japanese fans who expressed sadness and disappointment at the departure. Their sudden return was announced amid a diplomatic spat triggered by comments from Japan's prime minister about possible intervention over Taiwan. The pandas were on loan as part of China's panda diplomacy and had symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since ties normalized in 1972. China said the pandas began their return trip under the relevant agreement.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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