BEIJING: China announced that it had finalized agreements to send pandas to the San Diego Zoo, on Thursday marking a significant development after most of the beloved black-and-white bears previously on loan in the United States were returned amid diplomatic tensions over the years.
According to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Chinese institutions have officially inked deals with the San Diego Zoo in the US, focusing on a new phase of collaboration in the protection of giant pandas.
Additionally, agreements were also signed with a zoo in Madrid, and discussions are underway with zoos in Washington and Vienna, Mao added.
China has a longstanding tradition of using panda diplomacy, deploying these iconic animals to various countries to advance its foreign policy objectives. However, strained relations between Washington and Beijing have resulted in the return of most pandas from the United States, including three from the national zoo in Washington in November.
The remaining pandas in the United States, currently housed in an Atlanta zoo, are scheduled to return to China by late 2024. However, following a meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last year, Xi expressed willingness to send new pandas as symbols of friendship between the Chinese and American people, an offer welcomed by the White House.
Mao reiterated China’s eagerness for international cooperation in giant panda conservation, emphasizing the significance of pandas as a national treasure deeply cherished by people worldwide.
With an estimated 1,860 giant pandas remaining in the wild and approximately 600 in captivity across panda centers, zoos, and wildlife parks globally, efforts to protect these iconic creatures remain crucial, as highlighted by environmental group WWF.
