Singapore, October 16, 2024 –This week, FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) transported six giant pandas between the United States and China on two separate flights. The roundtrip journey departed Atlanta, GA., arrived in Chengdu, China, where it delivered four pandas and then returned to Washington, D.C. with two pandas. The pandas traveled aboard a FedEx Boeing 777-F, known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”
Departing Atlanta, FedEx transported four giant pandas from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). The FedEx Panda Express departed on October 12, local time, and arrived in Chengdu on October 13. The four pandas aboard included 27-year-old female Lun Lun and 27-year-old male Yang Yang, who have resided at Zoo Atlanta since 1999, and their twin female offspring, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, born at Zoo Atlanta in 2016. They have now safely arrived at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
On the return flight, FedEx transported two pandas from CTU to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, D.C. The FedEx Panda Express departed Chengdu on October 15 and arrived at Dulles International Airport on October 15, local time. From there, the pandas were taken by truck to NZCBI. The two pandas aboard included two-year-old male Bao Li and two-year-old female Qing Bao. Bao Li is the grandcub of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, whom FedEx transported to China, along with their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, in November 2023.
For more than two decades, FedEx has worked with the Chinese government and zoos around the world to safely transport giant pandas to and from China. The company is committed to keeping supply chains moving and connecting communities around the world by enabling global trade. FedEx donated the transportation cost as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts.
“With a long history of facilitating special deliveries and more than 40 years of operations in China, FedEx has developed deep expertise in transporting pandas—one of the world’s most treasured symbols of conservation,” said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx. “Our role in these efforts extends beyond logistics to supporting global conservation initiatives and fostering international collaboration. FedEx is proud to ensure that each of these precious shipments arrives safely and securely, reflecting the trust placed in us to protect what matters most.”
Before their trips, the animals spent time getting familiar with their enclosures to ensure they were safe and comfortable during their journeys. Upon arrival in Chengdu, Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun were met by their new keepers on the tarmac before moving to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Once they arrived in Washington, D.C., Bao Li and Qing Bao began their quarantine ahead of their public debut in January 2025.
Including these moves, FedEx has had the privilege of transporting 21 pandas to and from China. Previous FedEx Panda Express flights include:
- 2023: from USA to China
- 2023: from USA to China
- 2019: from USA to China
- 2017: from USA to China
- 2013: from China to Canada
- 2012: from China to France
- 2011: from China to Scotland
- 2010: from USA to China
- 2003: from China to USA
- 2000: from China to USA
The Employees’ Social Security (Amendment) Act 2024 (‘SOCSO Amendment Act’) and the Employment Insurance System (Amendment) Act 2024 (‘EIS Amendment Act’) will come into operation on 1 October 2024.
The SOCSO Amendment Act and the EIS Amendment Act will increase the maximum limit of the monthly wages of an employee from RM5,000 to RM6,000 per month for the purposes of determining the contribution and coverage under the Social Security Act 1969 and the Employment Insurance System Act 2017 respectively.
Azmi & Associates released a number of articles from the month of October. Click on the links below to read the article(s).
- Enforcing Your Intellectual Property (IP) Rights through the Court System: What Do IP Owners Need to Know?
- The National Security and Investment Act 2021: Annual Report 2024 and Update
- Legal Aspects & Issues of Aircraft Lease Agreements in Malaysia
On Friday, 11 October 2024, AMCHAM had the honor of hosting Dr. Mona Minkara, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University, for an inspiring fireside chat.
Dr. Mona captivated us with her story of resilience, passion for science, and the challenges she has overcome in her academic and professional journey as a blind scientist. Her journey exemplifies how individuals with disabilities contribute meaningfully to society and the workplace, proving that true vision extends far beyond what we see.
Attendees left with a deeper understanding of how innovation and determination can push the boundaries of exploration, and how we can work towards more inclusive environments for people with disabilities.
A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Mona for sharing her incredible story with us—we look forward to welcoming you again in the future!
The Citi Foundation recently announced 50 community organisations around the world as recipients of the 2024 Global Innovation Challenge’s collective $25 million grant to advancing solutions to homelessness. EPIC, an award-winning non-profit organisation with a primary focus on building secure homes for Orang Asli families became the first Malaysian NGO to receive USD500,000 grant (approximately RM2 million) for a two-year grant until 2026 in a bid to tackle the lack of safe housing amongst the Orang Asli community.
Many Orang Asli communities are transitioning to modern life, but a gap between traditional skills and modern job requirements have left many working long hours in low-wage jobs. As a result, they are unable to build homes using natural materials or afford modern housing, leading an estimated 10,000 families to live in unsafe or overcrowded conditions.
This grant support will help scale EPIC’s initiative to rapid build a housing model that is more environmentally and financially sustainable through the integration of bamboo as a construction material and empowering the Orang Asli communities through upskilling and capacity building.
As an international bank with vast and strong network, Citi Malaysia aims to be the bridge that connects EPIC with the right stakeholders to ensure their innovative solutions to this challenge extends greatly to communities in need.
On October 10, AMCHAM hosted an insightful “Advance and Elevate Your Career” webinar, providing participants with valuable resources to future-proof their skills through professional certificates and extension programs.
Featured guest speakers included Emily Kirsch from UCLA Extension and Kruthiga Permar from Asia School of Business (ASB) in collaboration with MIT Sloan; and Maha Mahyuddin from MABECS Global.
They shared valuable information on the various development courses offered by their institutions, emphasizing the role of continuous learning and how these programs are tailored to meet the evolving demands of today’s job market. The discussion highlighted why lifelong education is essential for staying competitive and thriving in the modern workforce.
