The National Zoo in Washington has announced that China will send two young giant pandas to the U.S., marking a renewal of panda diplomacy between the two countries.
China will send two young giant pandas to Washington, the National Zoo said on Wednesday, months after the zoo returned three of the bears amid heightened tensions between the two global superpowers. The announcement follows increased engagement between Washington and Beijing that has put ties on a steadier footing since relations hit historic lows last year.
To deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples, today I am very glad to share with you some good news,' he said during remarks at the zoo, announcing that the two pandas named Bao Li and Qing Bao will be headed to Washington. The Smithsonian's National Zoo said in a statement that it will welcome the pair of pandas by the end of the year.
Bao Li is a two-year-old male. His mother was born at the institute in 2013 and his grandparents Tian and Mei Xiang lived at NZCBI from 2000 to 2023. Qing Bao is a two-year-old female born to Qing Qing and mother Jia Mei. Once they arrive, the pair of pandas will be quarantined for 30 days and then have a few more weeks to settle into their new habitat, the zoo said. A public debut date has yet to be set.
China's communist government has long used 'panda diplomacy' to enhance the country's soft power, lending the large but cuddly-looking black-and-white bears to zoos in various countries over the decades as goodwill animal ambassadors. Wednesday's announcement is a clear sign of Beijing's approval of stabilized ties with Washington. Beijing presented two giant pandas as gifts to the U.S. in 1972 after President Richard Nixon's historic Cold War visit to the country.
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