"In the United States, almost every American loves pandas. Thank you, China!" said Carol Lopez, Honorary Chair of Sister Cities International, during a joint interview with China Youth Daily, and other media outlets at the 2024 China International Friendship Cities Conference, when discussing ways to strengthen diplomatic interaction between China and the United States.

On October 16 this year, the giant pandas "Bao Li" and "Qing Bao" officially moved into the National Zoo in Washington D.C., commencing their 10-year sojourn. Earlier, San Francisco Mayor London Breed also announced that the San Francisco Zoo would welcome giant pandas for the first time in 40 years.

The tradition of "panda diplomacy" between China and the U.S. has a long history. In February 1972, during President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China, the Chinese government decided to present giant pandas as a precious gift to the United States. In April of the same year, pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in the U.S. and took up residence at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where they were warmly welcomed by the American public.(Li Yue/China Youth Daily）