◆ "Japanese Overseas Chinese Daily" reporter Qiao Ju
The red beak is auspicious, and the jade feather embraces peace. On June 23, the Chinese Embassy in Japan and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Niigata jointly held a commemorative meeting on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the crested ibis "Youyou" and "Yangyang", which were the "heroes" who helped Japan rebuild the crested ibis population.
The theme of the conference is "Promoting Peace and Friendship and Jointly Promoting Ecological Civilization". Li Yunqing, Deputy Director General of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of the People's Republic of China, Shi Yong, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, Cui Weilei, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Niigata, Koichi Kasato, Deputy Governor of Niigata Prefecture, Hiroshi Matsusawa, Global Environment Councillor of the Ministry of the Environment, and Ryugo Watanabe, Mayor of Sado City, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Dou Jingli, Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province, and Cheng Yonghua, Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association, sent video speeches.
Li Yunqing said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the construction of ecological civilization and the protection of wild animals such as the crested ibis, and has continuously promoted the protection of endangered wildlife populations through various measures such as improving the legal protection system, strengthening habitat protection, and implementing rescue protection actions. Over the past 25 years, China and Japan have worked together to protect the crested ibis, which has not only helped the Japanese crested ibis population to greatly improve and multiply to more than 700 individuals, but also played an active role in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity, becoming a successful example in the history of wildlife conservation in the world.
Dou Jingli said that the crested ibis is a cultural symbol of Shaanxi, and "Youyou" and "Yangyang" are the messengers of Sino-Japanese friendship. It is hoped that China and Japan will continue to use the crested ibis as a link to carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of people-to-people, ecology, economy and trade, education, science and technology, enhance people-to-people ties and deepen practical cooperation.
Cheng Yonghua expressed the hope that this event will be used as an opportunity to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of crested ibis breeding, jointly write a new chapter in China-Japan wildlife conservation cooperation, and create a new model of friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Japan.
Shi Yong said that the crested ibis is a friendly bond between China and Japan. It is hoped that this conference will be an opportunity to look back on the original intention of friendship, strengthen the ties of friendship, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and create a better future for China-Japan relations.
Cui Weilei said that the Consulate General will continue to take the "crested ibis relationship" between China and Japan as the starting point, promote exchanges and cooperation on crested ibis protection, deepen people-to-people friendship, local exchanges and practical cooperation, and help build China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.
Deputy Governor of Niigata Prefecture, Koichi Kasato, Hiroshi Matsusawa, Global Environment Councillor of the Ministry of the Environment, and Ryugo Watanabe, Mayor of Sado City, delivered speeches and expressed their heartfelt thanks to China for helping to rebuild the crested ibis population. The crested ibis is not only a symbol of Japan-China friendship, but also an important symbol of Niigata Prefecture, which is closely related to regional environmental protection and revitalization. It is hoped that Japan and China will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the field of crested ibis conservation, and extend this spirit of cooperation to more fields, so as to jointly promote the continuous development of Japan-China relations.
The crested ibis is known as the "auspicious bird". In 1999, "Youyou" and "Yangyang" came to Niigata as a gift from China to Japan, saving the endangered Japanese crested ibis population.
At the commemorative meeting, the specimen of "Yangyang", who passed away in November 2023, was officially released. The specimen was light and agile and lifelike, which aroused the deep feelings of gratitude of the participants.
Students from Yukiya Elementary School in Sado City enthusiastically introduced the conservation of the crested ibis to the guests, who responded with kind smiles and encouraging applause. The local people presented a cultural program with the theme of the crested ibis.
The "Crested Ibis Cup" China-Japan Friendship Youth Calligraphy, Painting and Photography Exchange Exhibition, which was held outside the venue at the same time, showed the wonderful moments full of vitality, and also reflected the good wishes of Chinese and Japanese young people to love the environment, care for nature, and build peace together. The love of nature and the beauty of human nature moisturize things silently, attracting the participants to stop and appreciate and discuss.
The auspicious bird brings blessings, and may auspiciousness and peace stay in this land forever.