Panda Diplomacy is a centuries-old practice of gifting pandas to foreign nations as a symbol of goodwill and friendship. It has been a part of Chinese foreign policy for several centuries, and is still practiced today. The practice has taken place throughout Chinese history, but it has been especially active during the tenure of President Xi Jinping, who has gifted pandas to multiple nations as part of his efforts to improve China’s diplomatic ties with other countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently alluded to the possibility that the United States may receive more giant pandas as part of his ongoing efforts to build better relations between the two countries. During his speech at the UN General Assembly, President Xi noted that “over the past five years, we have provided pandas to several countries to carry out panda diplomacy, among which the United States is the first.” He also noted the importance of cooperating with the U.S. to “benefit the Chinese and American people.”
The exchange of pandas between China and other nations dates back to the 6th century, during the Tang Dynasty, when Chinese rulers began gifting pandas to other countries as a token of respect. By the 19th century, the exchange had become firmly established, and several pandas were exported to countries as diverse as Burma, Japan, and even Great Britain. The practice continued into the 20th century, and President Xi has been particularly active in promoting the practice.
To symbolize the importance of panda diplomacy to China, President Xi recently dedicated a new panda research and breeding facility in Szechuan. This new facility will be the home to many of the pandas gifted to foreign nations, and will be used for joint research projects between China and other nations. This research will focus on conservation and research to further understand the giant panda species.
It is unclear if the United States will receive pandas as part of President Xi’s diplomatic efforts, but the recent developments certainly hint that it could be a possibility. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that panda diplomacy has been a long-standing practice in China, and it continues to be an important part of their foreign policy.