Two pandas named Ping Ping and Fu Shuang flew from Chengdu in southwestern China to the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia. This transfer is part of an agreement signed during the three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
Panda Agreement and Soft Diplomacy
During this meeting, Xi Jinping stated that the program of lending pandas is an example of "friendship between the Chinese and Americans." This action is considered one of the few tangible outcomes of this meeting. China has traditionally used pandas as a tool in its global diplomacy, turning these agreements into a proven instrument of soft power. Conversely, Beijing has canceled agreements and retrieved pandas from countries when tensions rise.
Transfer Details and Reception in Atlanta
Peng Peng, the male panda, and Fu Shuang, the female panda, have been loaned to the Atlanta Zoo for 10 years. These two pandas were born in 2020 and have lived at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base. A farewell ceremony was held in Chengdu before their flight.
The two pandas departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on a charter flight to Atlanta at 3 AM local time on Sunday. The Boeing 777, supervised by FedEx, was equipped with food including steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots, and carrots to meet the pandas' dietary needs during the journey. Additionally, American caretakers who traveled to China to accompany the pandas were present on this flight.
To welcome the pandas, the Atlanta Zoo has renovated its panda facilities and ensured a continuous supply of local bamboo. This zoo has decades of experience in caring for pandas and previously hosted these animals from 1999 to 2024.
