WASHINGTON (TNND) — Two bamboo-munching diplomats are headed to the U.S., as Chinese President Xi Jinping gifted Zoo Atlanta a pair of giant pandas.
Xi shared the news during his White House visit on Thursday.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: President of China Xi Jinping sit swith U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on September 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is hosting President Xi for a three-day state visit to Washington, DC where the leaders are expected to discuss trade practices, artificial intelligence and furthering “strategic stability” between their countries. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Xi said Ping Ping, a male, and Fu Shuang, a female, would arrive “in a few days” from China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He told President Donald Trump the bears are an example of friendship between the Chinese and American people.
The bears are coming under a conservation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, not as a permanent gift. The announcement contrasted with high-stakes talks between Xi and Trump on trade, technology, and security.
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Zoo Atlanta last had pandas in 2024, when Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their two youngest offspring returned to China, ending a 25-year partnership. For several months, no giant pandas remained in the U.S. as other loan agreements also expired.
The zoo announced the agreement in April and said it was preparing to welcome Ping Ping and Fu Shuang. Zoo President Raymond B. King said the facility was delighted to serve as a steward for the species.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
