Taiwan youth visit Fuzhou Panda World. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Forty young people from Fuzhou and Taiwan gathered at Fuzhou Panda World on Jan 27 for a cross-Strait exchange program aimed at integrating giant panda conservation with rural vitalization efforts.

The event underscores the ongoing collaboration between Fuzhou Panda World and Taipei Zoo, a partnership established in 2012. Over the years, this relationship has yielded joint research on panda health and the development of standardized management guidelines. A notable example of this cooperation came when experts in Fuzhou shared treatment protocols developed through their work with the renowned panda Basi — best known as the model for Panpan, the mascot of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games — to support Taipei Zoo's care of the panda Tuantuan.

Participants learn about the history of giant panda conservation and the cooperation between Fuzhou and Taiwan at Fuzhou Panda World. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the visit, participants attended a briefing on detailing Fuzhou's 2026 preferential policies for Taiwan residents, including housing subsidies, entrepreneurship grants, and specialized financial services from Haixia Bank of Fujian.

Discussions focused on leveraging panda-themed branding to enhance rural tourism and cultural products. Taiwan designer Cai Peiyun said that the panda's cultural iconography provides a unique foundation for creative marketing that can drive local economic growth. By connecting ecological education with business incentives, the program encourages Taiwan youth to implement creative projects in local villages, fostering practical cooperation across cultural and economic sectors.