Chinese giant pandas ‘Pingping’ and ‘Fushuang’ arrive in Atlanta, USA

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Bong-seok = Two Chinese giant pandas, called 'a symbol of US-China friendship', arrived in the United States on the 27th (local time).

According to China Central (CCTV), giant pandas 'Pingping' and 'Fushuang' departed from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, China, on a chartered plane at 2:55 a.m. on the 27th, Chinese time, and arrived at Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, USA on the morning of the 27th, Eastern time.

The pandas that arrived in the United States will stay at the Atlanta Zoo and be used for joint research for 10 years.

Atlanta Zoo officials said they are ready to welcome the pandas, and that the pandas will go through an adaptation period for about a month before officially meeting visitors.

Prior to departure, a farewell ceremony was held at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Pingping is a male and Fushuang is a female, born in March and October 2020, respectively.

Previously, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a welcoming speech at the White House on the 24th prior to the summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, "In a few days, two pandas will come to their new home at the Atlanta Zoo and meet the American people."

China has been practicing 'panda diplomacy' by using giant pandas as friendly ambassadors for the people of other countries.

In particular, Xinhua News Agency reported that the U.S. and China have been conducting joint panda research since 1999 and have achieved results such as publishing more than 50 papers and breeding seven cubs.