China sends two giant pandas off to Atlanta zoo after Xi-Trump summit

China has dispatched two adult giant pandas to the Atlanta Zoo as part of a diplomatic agreement following a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. The pandas, named Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will reside at the Zoo Atlanta for a decade. The loan program exemplifies the "friendship" between China and the United States, according to Xi.

The pandas were transported via a chartered Boeing 777 operated by FedEx, accompanied by nourishment and experienced US zoo keepers who had been briefed in China beforehand. Before their departure, a farewell ceremony was held for the pandas at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The FedEx aircraft carried steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots, and carrots to sustain the pandas during their journey.

Upon arrival at the Zoo Atlanta, the pandas will be housed in a facility that has been renovated to accommodate their arrival, with a steady supply of locally cultivated bamboo to meet their dietary needs. This exchange is a testament to China's long-standing use of pandas as a soft power tool in its diplomatic efforts, though Beijing has also withdrawn pandas in the past when tensions escalated.