1 month before Trump’s visit to Beijing, loan could mean closer cooperation between countries
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday (April 24, 2026) the sending of 2 giant pandas to the USA before the state visit of the president (Republican Party). The animals, named PingPing and FuShuang, will go to the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia under a 10-year international agreement.
Chinese ministry spokesperson, , said that sending the pandas boosts cooperation between countries. According to him, the partnership will strengthen the capacity to protect giant pandas and other threatened species.
“Giant pandas are China’s ‘national treasure’ and are also messengers and bridges of friendship between people around the world. We believe that the new round of cooperation between China and the United States on the protection of giant pandas will make new contributions to promoting the health and welfare of giant pandas.”he stated in an interview with journalists.
The first partnership between Zoo Atlanta and China began in 1999. The original couple LunLun and YangYang fathered 7 cubs from 2006 to 2016. The agreement ended in 2024. Since then, the zoo has not received any pandas.
Sending the animals to Zoo Atlanta before Trump’s visit is seen as the Chinese government’s willingness to strengthen ties with Washington. The North American president will visit the country on May 14. He must meet with the Chinese president, (CCP).
TWO PANDAS DIPLOMACY
In China, panda lending is used as an instrument of diplomacy and strengthening cooperation between countries.
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a national symbol of the country, often associated with friendship for the Chinese. Beijing usually lends animals to countries with greater diplomatic proximity.
At the beginning of this year, Beijing removed the last pandas present in Japan. Despite being linked to the maturity of the loans, the decision to permanently remove the animals reflects the relationship between the countries – which are sensitized after Tokyo in favor of the island of Taiwan.
