On 21 February, Consul General Tang Rui visited Sheffield and, on behalf of the City of Chengdu, presented a colourful panda sculpture symbolizing the friendship between the two sister cities to the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Safiya Saeed.

Consul General Tang noted that Chengdu and Sheffield have maintained close exchanges since establishing sister-city relations in 2010. Last year, the two cities jointly celebrated the 15th anniversary of their partnership, elevating friendly cooperation to a new level. He expressed the hope that both sides would take the opportunity of Prime Minister Starmer's successful visit to China to jointly chart a new course of win-win cooperation.

Lord Mayor Saeed thanked Consul General Tang for presenting the panda sculpture on behalf of Chengdu, and acknowledged the solid foundation of cooperation between Sheffield and Chengdu across various sectors. Looking ahead, the two cities will further strengthen collaboration and take their friendly relations to even greater heights. He extended his New Year wishes to the people of Chengdu and to the Chinese community in Sheffield. Following the ceremony, both sides attended the Sheffield Chinese New Year celebrations together.

As a gift commemorating the 15th anniversary of the sister-city relationship, the panda sculpture will be displayed at the iconic Winter Garden in Sheffield city centre for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors.