China sends two giant pandas to Atlanta zoo after diplomatic talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that two giant pandas will arrive at Zoo Atlanta within days. He made the announcement after talks with President Trump at the White House. The male panda is called Ping Ping and the female is Fu Shuang. Both were born at a breeding centre in Chengdu, China. Zoo Atlanta and a Chinese wildlife organisation agreed on the transfer in April, but Xi's statement was the first confirmation of when the animals would arrive. The zoo had four pandas until 2024, when China took them back after 25 years. The United States had no pandas on loan from China for several months. The National Zoo in Washington received two pandas from China in October 2024.