Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during a visit with President Trump that China will send two pandas to Zoo Atlanta as envoys of friendship. This gesture is seen as a potential tool to ease tensions in U.S.-China relations. Xi made these remarks during his three-day visit to Washington D.C., where discussions are expected on AI, economic ties, and critical minerals. President Trump expressed his appreciation for their strong friendship. China typically loans pandas internationally as a symbol of goodwill. The pandas designated for Zoo Atlanta were previously announced in April by the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. These pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, are both from China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Historically, China has also used panda diplomacy to signal strained relationships. Pandas from the National Zoo in D.C. were returned in 2023 due to expiring agreements amidst geopolitical friction, though new pandas later arrived. Giant pandas are native to China, making Beijing the source for other countries to observe them. The tradition of panda diplomacy dates back to President Nixon's 1972 visit to China, which initiated a new era in bilateral relations.