AI-generated summary
China has practiced panda diplomacy since the 1970s, lending giant pandas to other countries as a symbol of friendship and a tool of soft power. These loans are usually accompanied by research and conservation agreements.
Beijing continues its “panda diplomacy”. China sent two giant pandas to the United States this Sunday morning, according to its official Xinhua news agency.
A diplomatic asset for China
The subject of an agreement in 2025, the transfer of the two ursids was announced Thursday by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Washington for a summit with his American counterpart Donald Trump.
These animals are extremely popular around the world and China uses them as a diplomatic asset to heal its ties with other countries by lending them.
Animals at the heart of a standoff with Tokyo
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang left Chengdu-Shuangliu international airport at 3 a.m., the Xinhua news agency said. They will spend the next ten years in a zoo in Atlanta. A farewell ceremony was organized for them before their departure.
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If panda loans are used to ensure good relations, ursids can also be recalled to signify discontent. Beijing, for example, repatriated two of these animals from Japan this year, after comments by the Japanese Prime Minister on Taiwan which aroused Chinese anger.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Zoo Atlanta will announce a significant increase in attendance in the months following the arrival of the pandas.
Likely · Within months
China will closely monitor the US public's reaction to the arrival of the pandas as an indicator of the state of Sino-US relations.
Possible · Within months

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