Overview

• China has signed agreements to send giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, reigniting a tradition of animal-based diplomacy with the United States.
• The San Diego Zoo, which last hosted pandas in 2019, is preparing to receive a male and female panda by the end of summer, pending permit approvals.
• The China Wildlife Conservation Association has also reached agreements with zoos in Madrid and is in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C., and Vienna.
• Panda diplomacy, a symbol of U.S.-China friendship since 1972, had been in question after several pandas were returned to China in recent years.
• The return of pandas to the U.S. follows a hint by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with President Joe Biden, signaling a potential thaw in diplomatic tensions.