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

Beijing, China has sent two giant pandas to the United States following a major Washington summit, according to state media. The pandas' transfer had been previously agreed upon; however, their departure was announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the U.S. The black and white mammals are popular worldwide and are part of China's "panda diplomacy" program aimed at fostering foreign relationships.

Ping Ping, a male panda, and Fu Shuang, a female panda, departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in the early hours of Sunday. They traveled on a chartered flight operated by FedEx, a Boeing 777, which can be tracked on aviation information platform FlightRadar24. The pandas are expected to spend ten years at a zoo in Atlanta, Georgia.

A farewell ceremony was held for the pandas before their departure by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Experienced keepers from the U.S. accompanied the pandas during their flight. Zoo Atlanta has made preparations for their arrival, including renovation of the panda facilities and recruitment of a team of animal caretakers. The zoo will also ensure a steady supply of locally-grown bamboo, as the climate in Atlanta closely resembles Chengdu.

Both pandas were born in 2020, making Ping Ping six years old and Fu Shuang six months away from her sixth birthday. Pandas in captivity typically live for about 30 years. China has been sending pandas across the globe as a form of soft power and diplomatic goodwill for decades. In 1972, China gifted a pair of pandas to Washington following U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to the Communist nation.