MEISHAN, CHINA - MediaOutReach - 3 November 2020 - With the theme of "Panda World,World Panda--For Nature As It Is", the first digital International PandaFestival is hosted by Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Administration (GiantPanda National Park Sichuan Administration), Information Office of SichuanProvincial People's Government, Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office, SichuanInternet Information Office, International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) China Representative Office, organized by Sichuan Digital PandaTechnology Development Co., Ltd., co-organized by Sichuan Provincial People'sAssociation for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Chengdu Research Base ofGiant Panda Breeding and Sichuan Giant Panda Protection Foundation.

Giantpandas arethe "messenger ofpeace" in China'sopening to the outside world. Sichuan ranks first in the area of giant pandahabitat, the number of wild giant panda population and captive giant pandas inChina.

Sichuan, as one of thepilot areasof the Giant Panda National Park, covers an area of 20,177 square kilometers,accounting for 74.36%. There are 1,227 giant pandas in the wild, accounting for75.23%.

The opening ceremonylaunches a "space-air-ground-man"integrated digital platform. Locals will be able to learn about the life ofSichuan-based giant pandas living in foreign countries. Meanwhile, it releases books such as the Gift of Nature - Discovering Sichuan as ItIs, Landscape of Bamboo forests inSichuan, Secret Sichuan - the 88 MostBeautiful Forest and Grass Landscapes to Go. It also releases the topsix lists of "the Most Beautiful Bamboo Landscape" in Chengdu-ChongqingEconomic Circle, as well as the Guidelineson Promoting the Development of Natural Education by eight departmentsincluding Sichuan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration, SichuanProvincial Development and Reform Commission, Education Department of SichuanProvince, etc. Besides,Forest and Grassland Fire Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Forestry Sciencesare inaugurated.

Six forums and threeconferences systematically present successful experiences in buildinghigh-quality forest and grassland fire barriers. Exhibitions such as the NatureReserve Photo Exhibition, the Giant Panda Cultural and Creative Exhibition, andthe Giant Panda International Art Exhibition makeyou appreciate the unique charm.

The digitalInternational Panda Festival will strive to develop into a branded networkexchange platform with distinctive themes at both national and internationallevels, makingitself the only global flagship platform with westerncharacteristics in China.