![San Diego Zoo is welcoming two new giant pandas from China as part of a new phase in "panda diplomacy" between the countries.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/giant-pandas-CLEAN-GETTY.jpg?w=1920)
[KARAH RUCKER]
T’S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA IN ‘PANDA DIPLOMACY.’
THE SAN DIEGO ZOO’S NEWEST GIANT PANDAS ARE ON THEIR WAY FROM CHINA — MARKING THE FIRST TIME BEIJING loaned pandas TO THE U-S IN TWO DECADES.
CHINESE STATE MEDIA REPORTS THE TWO PANDAS LEFT CHINA WEDNESDAY NIGHT — FOR A CHARTERED FLIGHT TO THEIR NEW HOME IN CALIFORNIA.
ZOO OFFICIALS SAY THE PANDAS WON’T BE VIEWABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A FEW WEEKS — AS THEY GET USED TO THEIR NEW SURROUNDINGS.
THE PANDA LOAN MARKS A STEP FORWARD FOR RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA AS THEY TRY TO REPAIR TIES STRAINED BY DISPUTES OVER TRADE, TECHNOLOGY, THE STATUS OF TAIWAN AND OTHER ISSUES between the world’s two largest economies.