(DailyEmailNews.com) – In a move that might be viewed with suspicion over ulterior motives and hidden meaning, China has sent two pandas to Democrat-run California, the first arrival of pandas in the United States from the Communist nation in two decades.
California’s governor attended the introduction of the young bears at the San Diego Zoo, an event that drew significant media attention and prompted traffic alerts from the city due to the large turnout expected on Thursday.
This event marked the first time in twenty years that giant pandas have been brought to the US, with the San Diego Zoo hosting the grand unveiling of these esteemed animals, The Guardian reports.
For decades, China has engaged in “panda diplomacy” by lending pandas to international zoos, using these cherished animals as symbols of diplomatic relations.
Since a pair was presented to Washington DC’s National Zoo in 1972, pandas have symbolized the amity between the US and China.
However, as diplomatic tensions escalated, China ceased its panda loans to the US.
That changed last year when Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to “continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation” and aimed to ease the strained relations.
Currently, only four other giant pandas reside in the US, all located at the Atlanta zoo.
By year’s end, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is expected to receive another pair, following the return of its previous pandas to China last November.
Under the typical terms of these agreements, US zoos contribute $1 million annually towards China’s wildlife conservation efforts, and any panda cubs born in the US must be sent back to China by age four.
The arrival of the pandas at the end of June has been a significant relief for San Diego, especially since their previous pandas departed in 2018 and 2019.
The inaugural event for the zoo’s panda exhibit featured performances, music, and speeches by notable figures including Governor Gavin Newsom, Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng, and local leaders.
“This is about something much deeper, much richer, than just the two beautiful pandas we celebrate. It’s about celebrating our common humanity,” stated Governor Newsom.
Newsom designated August 8 as California Panda Day and acknowledged the San Diego zoo for pioneering a cooperative panda conservation initiative with China.
Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng reiterated Newsom’s message during his speech, hoping the pandas’ arrival would “inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and California, and help stabilize the broader bilateral relationship, as well.”
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