During his visit to the White House, Xi Jinping confirmed that China will send two giant pandas to the United States within a few days to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In a speech at the White House on Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the giant pandas as "ambassadors of friendship" in the historic ties between China and the U.S., revealing that two pandas will arrive at the Atlanta Zoo within the next few days.
Earlier this year, the Atlanta Zoo announced that two giant pandas named “Ping Ping” and “Fu Shuang” would be arriving in the city. Chinese media explained that "Fu Shuang" means "double blessings," while "Ping Ping" translates as "peace, peace."
Panda diplomacy between Beijing and Washington began in 1972 after President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, when Mao Zedong's government gifted two giant pandas to the U.S. as a symbol of warming relations following decades of suspended diplomatic contact.
The agreement between China and the U.S. zoos specifies that Beijing retains ownership of the pandas and any offspring, and requires payment of fees to support giant panda conservation efforts in China.
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Source:cnn