In 1984, Adventure World signed a
In 1987, Adventure World concluded a friendship agreement with Jinniu Park Jinan Zoo in Jinan City, Shandong Province, Shandong Province, following the conclusion of the friendship agreement between Wakayama Prefecture and Shandong Province, China in 1984. The Jinan Zoo has brought in 18 animals of four species, including red pandas, and the Park has brought out 13 animals of six species, including elephants and giraffes. In 1992, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, two Chinese gingkoes were brought in from the Jinan Zoo for a short-term exhibition of about four months, courtesy of the China Zoo Association and Shandong Province. The zoo is one of the first protected zoos in China and is located in Japan. The animals, which are the first class of protected animals in China and can hardly be seen in Japan, were seen by many guests and provided an opportunity to think about their rarity.
Animal exchange results with Jinan Zoo
| year of implementation | animal brought into the country (e.g. domestic animal) | animals carried out of a facility (e.g. flora, fauna, flora hens, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1988年 | Lesser pandas (4) | African elephant (1), Mantled baboons (2), Indian peacocks (4) |
| 1989年 | Eurasian otters (3), Philippine pelicans (7) | Masai giraffe (1), Bengal tiger (3) |
| 1991年 | Lesser panda (1) | |
| 1992年 | Masai giraffe (1) | |
| 1993年 | Velvet otters (3) | Asian elephant (1) |
| Total | 18 birds of 4 species | 6 species, 13 feathers |
*Not including short-term exhibitions
Since the Friendship City Agreement between Wakayama Prefecture and Shandong Province in April 1984, municipalities in Wakayama Prefecture have conducted many exchanges with China in tourism, human resources, economy, culture, etc. In March 2020, a memorandum of understanding was concluded with Sichuan Province regarding friendship in tourism, disaster prevention, medical care, education, economy, etc. In January 2022, a friendship city agreement was concluded. In January 2022, a friendship city affiliation was established. Shirahama Town and Cheng Hua District have been in exchange and cooperation with each other since the start of the Joint Project on Giant Panda Conservation in 1994, and the Park has displayed the signboard of the Japanese branch of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base. The return of the pandas born in the Park to China has led many visitors to China, the home of the pandas, and in September 2007, a direct flight from Japan to Chengdu was operated, attracting even more visitors to Chengdu and Garyong to see the pandas. In December 2020, a memorandum of understanding on friendly and cooperative relations was signed. Giant pandas are playing a major role in building trust and bridging mutual understanding between Japan and China.
Cooperation between local governments in Wakayama Prefecture and China
| City Name | Partner Cities | Location | Date of affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakayama prefecture (Kinki area) | Shandong Province | China | April 18, 1984 |
| Wakayama City | Jinan City | China (Shandong Province) | January 14, 1983 |
| Hashimoto City | Taean City | China (Shandong Province) | May 13, 1987 |
| Kinokawa City | Binzhou City | China (Shandong Province) | October 15, 2007 |
| Katsuragamachi | Laixi City | China (Shandong Province) | October 27, 1994 |
| Aritagawa Town | Guixi City | China (Jiangxi Province) | August 30, 2006 |
| Nachikatsuura Town | Anshun City (Hwangguoshu Waterfall) | China (Guizhou Province) | August 29, 2006 |
| Wakayama prefecture (Kinki area) | Sichuan Province | China | March 24, 2020 |
| Shirahama Town | Chengdu Chenghua District | China (Sichuan) | December 22, 2020 |
| Koya Town | Gulou District, Fuzhou | China (Fujian Province) | May 12, 2021 |
Remarks: MemorandumExchange of Opinions