China sends two giant pandas to US
BEIJING: China sent two giant pandas to the United States on Sunday, state media said, after a Washington summit that was heavy on symbolism and light on major breakthroughs.
China has dispatched two giant pandas to the United States, according to state media reports, following a Washington summit that focused more on symbolism than substantive agreements. The transfer of the pandas had been previously agreed upon, but the announcement was made during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the US on Thursday.
The black and white bears, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, took off from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on a chartered flight operated by FedEx at around 3am on Sunday. They are expected to arrive in Atlanta, Georgia, where they will spend the next decade at a zoo. The pandas, whose destinations have been announced, are part of China's "panda diplomacy" program, which involves lending the animals to other countries to enhance international relations.
Prior to their departure, experienced keepers were flown to China from the US to accompany the pandas on their journey. Zoo Atlanta, which will host the pandas, has prepared for their arrival by renovating its facilities and stocking up on locally grown bamboo. The duo were born in 2020 and are currently six years old. Captive pandas typically live to around 30 years of age.
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