Advertisement
China-US relations: giant panda pair to take up residence in San Diego
- The announcement comes close on the heels of US secretary of state’s meeting with Chinese president
- San Diego Zoo is upgrading its facilities in preparation for the animals
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
2
Two new members of China’s giant panda diplomacy corps will head to the American city of San Diego under a 10-year lease, China’s forestry body announced on Friday soon after President Xi Jinping met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing.
The National Forestry and Grassland Administration said male Yun Chuan and female Xin Bao would make the trip to the US city, accompanied by several Chinese keepers and veterinary surgeons.
Without saying when the giant pandas would leave China, the administration revealed that representatives from the China Wildlife Conservation Association travelled to San Diego Zoo last month to ensure living standards for the animals were met.
Advertisement
It said the zoo was upgrading various venues to “create a larger and more comfortable living environment”.
A similar lease has been signed with a zoo in San Francisco this year while talks are reportedly under way with a centre in Washington in a resurgence in “panda diplomacy” between the two countries.
Advertisement
However Zoo Atlanta is the only US facility still hosting pandas.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x