Xi Says Two Giant Pandas Will Arrive at Zoo Atlanta in Coming Days

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that two giant pandas from China will arrive at Zoo Atlanta in the coming days, restoring a loan arrangement that had lapsed during a period of strain in relations between Beijing and Washington.

Speaking at the White House in opening remarks before talks with President Donald Trump, Xi said the pair, Ping Ping, a male, and Fu Shuang, a female, would reach their new home at the zoo in a few days. He described the development as good news and held up the panda loan programme as an example of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

The announcement provided the first public confirmation of the timing. China and the zoo had said in April that the two animals would be sent to the United States.

The pandas are covered by a conservation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Both were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China.

Atlanta had lost its previous pandas in 2024, when Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun and Xi Lun returned to China, ending a 25-year partnership and leaving the United States without any of the animals for several months. The National Zoo in Washington had sent three pandas back to China in 2023 before receiving new arrivals, Bao Li and Qing Bao, in October 2024, after Atlanta's pandas departed. Other American zoos had earlier returned pandas as loan agreements expired.

When the Atlanta transfer was officially promised in the spring, Zoo Atlanta CEO Raymond B. King welcomed what he called the wonder and joy of giant pandas, saying the facility was delighted and honoured to again be trusted as stewards of the species.