Two Giant Pandas Depart China for Atlanta Zoo After Xi-Trump Summit

Two giant pandas departed Chengdu in south-western China early Sunday bound for new homes at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia, as part of an agreement between the Chinese and US governments, according to the Guardian.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the arrangement while in Washington DC for a three-day summit with US President Donald Trump, saying the pandas would arrive in Atlanta within days of the announcement.

One tangible outcome

The panda loan was described as one of the few concrete outcomes to emerge from Xi's state visit, which featured expressions of goodwill between the two leaders but did not produce resolutions to longstanding disagreements between Washington and Beijing.

Giant pandas have long served as a symbol of diplomatic exchange between China and other countries, with Beijing periodically loaning the animals to foreign zoos as a gesture of goodwill. The Guardian's report did not specify the exact date the pandas are expected to arrive in Atlanta or the terms of the loan agreement, including its duration.

Zoo Atlanta previously hosted giant pandas as part of earlier loan arrangements with China, making it one of a small number of US zoos with experience housing the animals. Further details on the pandas' journey and arrival are expected to be released as they near their destination.