China sends two giant pandas to US following Washington summit

China sent two giant pandas to the United States on Sunday, state media reported, following a Washington summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

The transfer of the pandas had already been agreed, but their departure was announced on Thursday during Xi’s visit to Washington.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on a chartered flight at around 3am on Sunday, Xinhua reported. The pandas are travelling to Zoo Atlanta, where they will remain for the next 10 years.

The pair were supplied with steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots and carrots for their 15-hour journey, according to China’s state-run Global Times.

US keepers accompanied the pandas during the flight, while Zoo Atlanta has renovated its panda facilities and prepared a team of animal caretakers for their arrival.

The zoo has also secured a long-term supply of bamboo grown locally in Atlanta.

China has long loaned giant pandas to zoos in other countries as part of what is commonly known as “panda diplomacy”, using the animals to foster international ties.

Zoo Atlanta previously hosted pandas on loan from China for 25 years from 1999. The zoo has not had pandas since 2024.