[Photo provided to China Daily]

"The panda is the treasure of Chinese culture. Its calmness always surprises me, and I want to highlight their strength, softness and wisdom.

"I'm honored to be invited to represent the friendship between two countries and build a bridge between the two famous streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres and Jinjiang (the neighborhood where Chengdu IFS located)."

Besides the giant panda artwork, panda plush toys can be bought at the market. And the profits go to the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in central Paris.

Speaking about Chengdu's reasons for entering the collaboration, Christina Hau, general manager of Operations, Wharf China Estates Limited, the group behind Chengdu IFS, says: "As a popular destination and Western China's leading urban complex, Chengdu IFS is spearheading the promotion of international fashion and arts - so it was natural for us to partner with the Saint-Germain-des-Pres Committee and the sixth district government of Paris.

"We hope these cultural events will allow the French people to discover a city which is not known well enough, yet, and has exceptional cultural and economic attractiveness.

"The 1,000-year histories (of the two cities), their delicate balance between fashion and lifestyle, and the parallel stories of Jinjiang and Saint-Germain-des-Pres deserve to be celebrated, and I truly rejoice in this new friendship," she says.