BEIJING: China announced on Thursday that it had reached agreements to send pandas to the San Diego Zoo, marking a revival of the iconic “panda diplomacy” after years of diplomatic tensions with the United States.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, Chinese institutions have finalized agreements with the San Diego Zoo, focusing on a new phase of cooperation in giant panda protection. Similar deals were inked with a zoo in Madrid, with negotiations ongoing for partnerships with zoos in Washington and Vienna.
The move comes amid dwindling numbers of pandas in the United States due to strained relations between Washington and Beijing. Only a few of these beloved animals remain in the US, with the last ones scheduled to return to China from the zoo in Atlanta by late 2024.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged when Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed willingness to send new pandas as symbols of friendship between the Chinese and American people during a meeting with US President Joe Biden last year. The White House welcomed the prospect of receiving more pandas, highlighting their status as a national treasure of China and a beloved species worldwide.
With an estimated 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild and around 600 in captivity globally, the agreements signify a renewed commitment to panda conservation and international cooperation in safeguarding these iconic animals.
