Panda diplomacy: all the countries currently hosting China’s beloved ambassadors

Oct 1, 2026, 10:00 PM· 47 minutes ago· Original: EN

Two giant pandas arrived in the US following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, continuing a decades-old tradition in which the beloved fuzzy ambassadors have become symbols of China’s ties with countries around the world. Zoo Atlanta announced the arrival of giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang on Sunday, saying it was “overjoyed” to welcome the pair after the zoo’s previous 25-year partnership with China ended in 2024. Xi said during his US visit that the pandas would be sent.

The arrival of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang in the US following the Xi-Trump summit in Washington continues a Chinese diplomatic tradition

Xi said during his US visit that the pandas would be sent as an “envoy of friendship” between the Chinese and American people.

What is panda diplomacy, how does it reflect bilateral ties?

It gained international attention in the 1970s when China sent pandas to countries including the US and Japan following major diplomatic developments, including the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan in 1972.

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