The White House: We Will Welcome Pandas If China Sends Them

- The White House announced on Thursday that the United States "will fully welcome" the return of pandas that China withdrew from American zoos earlier, following a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping hinted that new pandas could be sent to the United States. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: "Clearly, we appreciate their presence here and respect the sovereign decision made by China to reclaim some pandas." He added, "If China decides to return some pandas to the United States, we will fully welcome that."

Only 4 pandas remain in the United States after 3 were withdrawn earlier this month, and the remaining pandas are scheduled to return to China at the end of 2024. Xi suggested on Wednesday that China send new pandas to the United States, describing them as "envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples," in the latest gesture aimed at easing the strained relations between the two powers.

The Chinese president told American business leaders during a speech he delivered in San Francisco on Wednesday: "I learned that my zoo in San Diego, California, is very much looking forward to the return of the pandas." He added: "We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation and do our utmost to meet the wishes of the people of California to deepen the friendly relations between our two peoples."

Earlier this month, 3 pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington returned to China, marking the end of more than 50 years of the presence of Chinese pandas at the zoo. The Smithsonian National Zoo was the first American zoo to feature pandas as part of what is known as "panda diplomacy."