Pandas are China's ambassadors of friendship to the world, and they also witness the exchanges between China and the United States, said Flying Tigers veteran Mel McMullen.

by Xinhua Writer Tan Jingjing

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A veteran and other family members of the Flying Tigers, American volunteer pilots during World War II, gathered at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California on Saturday for a special meet and greet with the giant Chinese pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao.

Under the warm autumn sun, the pandas' playful antics drew laughter from attendees, creating a memorable scene that underscored the people-to-people ties between the United States and China.

Calling giant pandas a symbol of U.S.-China friendship, Flying Tigers veteran Mel McMullen told Xinhua the bears reminded him of the deep trust between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people during World War II.

"Pandas are China's ambassadors of friendship to the world, and they also witness the exchanges between our peoples," said the 100-year-old.

Invited by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, about 40 family members of veterans traveled from across the United States to meet the pandas.

The two great symbols of the friendship between the two countries -- Flying Tigers and Chinese giant pandas -- met at the San Diego Zoo, said Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun, calling it a "touching moment."

Eighty years ago, the Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, crossed the Pacific and fought alongside Chinese troops and civilians against invading Japanese forces, leaving a unique mark on U.S.-China history.

Paula Peeden, a family member of a veteran, traveled from Tennessee for the reunion.

"We are deeply grateful for the way China protected, supported, and appreciated what our ancestors did. None of it could have been accomplished without the help of the Chinese people, who safeguarded them, built the roads, and made everything possible. The kindness between the two communities was remarkable," she told Xinhua.

"The giant pandas are so adorable," Lydia Rossi, widow of veteran John Richard "Dick" Rossi, told Xinhua as she watched Yun Chuan and Xin Bao closely, following their every movement.

"Giant pandas are a symbol of peace and friendship from China to the world. Seeing them always reminds me of warmth and hope," she said.

The two pandas arrived at the San Diego Zoo last August for a 10-year conservation program, marking a new chapter of collaboration between China and the United States.

"Having the pandas here at the San Diego Zoo always reminds us of how far we can go as a united front for wildlife and our planet," said Erika Kohler, senior vice president and executive director of the zoo.

Dating back to 1994, the zoo's giant panda program is the first joint research program established between China and the United States.