(Documentary)
In a remarkable display of cross-cultural ecological collaboration, a Chinese documentary titled "The Giant Panda of the Sea," focusing on the Chinese white dolphins in Guangdong Zhanjiang's Leizhou Bay, was screened recently at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The documentary, shot through the lens of Agathe Serre, a postdoctoral researcher from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, offers an intimate look into the lives of these rare marine mammals, often referred to as the "giant pandas of the sea" due to their rarity and charm.
Against the backdrop of Zhanjiang's azure waters, the dolphins' graceful movements and playful antics paint a vivid picture of nature's wonders, leaving the conference attendees in awe.
China is home to seven Chinese white dolphin nature reserves, with six in Guangdong province alone, making it the epicenter of the species' distribution in the country. Leizhou Bay, in particular, boasts the world's second-largest population of these majestic creatures.
Sister cities linked by dolphins
Christiane Amiel, Vice Mayor of Nice, hailed the film as a resounding success, noting its potential to pave the way for new China-France collaborations in ecological preservation.
Despite being separated by thousands of miles of ocean, Zhanjiang and Nice share a deep connection through their mutual commitment to marine conservation. Both cities, located along the southern coastlines of their respective nations, boast rich marine ecosystems and are home to significant dolphin populations. This shared ecological heritage has become the cornerstone of a burgeoning friendship between the two cities.
Fabien Pacory, Vice President of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, highlighted China's dedication to global environmental agreements and its efforts to protect endangered species, citing Zhanjiang's strides in green technology and clean energy as prime examples.
During the conference, Nice and Zhanjiang signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, establishing a friendly-city relationship. This marks Zhanjiang's first breakthrough in its "international network" in France and will promote exchanges and cooperation between the two cities in areas such as marine biodiversity protection.
Collaborative efforts behind the scenes
The documentary's international acclaim is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Chinese and French filmmakers, supported by a coalition of local and international organizations.
Under the direction of Philippe Savine, a renowned French filmmaker, a local Zhanjiang crew braved the challenges of the open sea to capture the dolphins in their natural habitat.
Sylvain Fourrière, the French Consul General in Guangzhou, emphasized the symbolic significance of the documentary, noting that "Zhanjiang and Nice, both blessed by the presence of dolphins, have now forged a bond that transcends geographical boundaries."
He expressed hope that this collaboration would serve as a springboard for future endeavors in cultural tourism and blue economy innovation, further strengthening the ties between the two cities.
According to the Zhanjiang Municipal Foreign Affairs Bureau, Zhanjiang will continue to showcase its mangrove forests and Chinese white dolphins to the international community, sharing the city's progress in ecological and environmental protection with the rest of the world.
The project is supported by the Zhanjiang Municipal People's Government and spearheaded by the Zhanjiang Municipal Publicity Department and the Municipal Foreign Affairs Bureau, with backing from the Zhanjiang Chinese White Dolphin Protection Association, SGD Pharma in China, the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Guangzhou, and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Video & photo provided to GDToday
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
