On May 24th, 2023, a 10-year-old French girl named Ninon Verne was unable to play freely like her peers due to a rare cystic fibrosis condition. However, as someone who loves nature and animals, she has always had a wish to visit the hometown of giant pandas. With the cooperation and care of institutions as well as individuals from China and France, Ninon finally realized this dream. Her trip to Chengdu with pandas was accompanied by Liu Yue, a senior student in our department, as an interpreter. The following is Liu Yue’s self statement:

Last Saturday, May 20th, I was invited by Xinhua News Agency to go to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to be the accompanying interpreter for Ninon Verne, who finally set off on her dream trip.

After arriving at the Giant Panda Base on Saturday morning, we first accompanied Ninon’s family on a tour of the Endless Hills area and the Moon Delivery Room. Ninon was very happy to see the giant pandas as she wished, and it was very cozy for the family of three to chat and play at the same time. After visiting the Moon Delivery Room, two reporters from Xinhua News Agency and I found an open space to interview Ninon’s family, and I was mainly responsible for  interpreting the interview. The reporters asked many questions about Ninon’s trip to China, and Ninon answered that there are many more pandas in Chengdu than in France, and that they are more active.She was very happy to see so many active and lovely pandas in the hometown of the giant pandas.

The Chinese staff were very enthusiastic and even gave Ninon a panda doll as a gift. In order to realize the dream of this little girl with a rare disease, the caring people from both China and France are working hard, making me feel a strong sense of humanistic care. This accompanying interpreter is not only a job, but also a caring activity.

Ninon’s story has brought people touching and inspiration, while also highlighting the importance of friendship and cooperation between China and France. It is also hoped that the students of the French class will try their best to learn French well and make more contributions to Sino-French exchanges.