How pandas assist diplomacy (VIDEO)

China responded asymmetrically to the US choice to start out a brand new stage of the commerce battle. As a substitute of counter tariffs and restrictions, he despatched goodwill ambassadors to the very coronary heart of America – the Washington Zoo. Two big pandas are touring there: Bao Li and Qing Bao.

Final yr, China recalled the final pandas from the US, leaving People with out the uncommon bamboo bears on which China has a monopoly. And so, with nice fanfare and the participation of First Woman Jill Biden, it was introduced on the White Home that pandas had been coming once more.

“We sit up for this historic second and have fun it right here within the capital of our nation,” the spouse of the American president joyfully introduced and, squeezing the stuffed panda thrown to her from behind the scenes, added: “Official announcement! Pandas are coming to Washington!

Large pandas have been visiting the US for the reason that normalization of relations following President Richard Nixon’s historic go to to China in 1972.

Nevertheless, final yr China recalled the final pandas from zoos in Washington, Memphis, Atlanta and San Diego, in what specialists noticed as one other episode of “panda diplomacy.” The capital’s zoo gave bears Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji a nine-day farewell pageant. And now he’s going to rearrange the identical magnificent assembly for a pair of younger pandas.

Relations between the US and China have been deteriorating for a very long time, and final yr they reached their lowest level. After which they determined that one thing wanted to be completed and started to construct bridges. The place to begin was the primary assembly between Joe Biden and Chinese language chief Xi Jinping in San Francisco final fall. Earlier than that assembly, the People mentioned that Biden, amongst different issues, would contact on the subject of returning pandas to America. And now his spouse introduced that this can occur earlier than the top of 2024.