DC zoo to receive a new pair of giant pandas from China

A pair of giant pandas from China will soon be housed at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC, the zoo has announced.

Two-year-old male panda Bao Li and two-year-old female panda Qing Bao are set to arrive in the US capital later this year.

News of their coming arrival was announced with a video on Wednesday featuring First Lady Jill Biden, who called it a “historic moment”.

The move marks the latest chapter of China’s long history of panda diplomacy with the US, and comes despite tense relations between the two countries.

It also comes six months after a family of three pandas was returned to China from the National Zoo.

In their announcement, the zoo said one of the incoming bears – Bao Li – is a descendent of that family.

“This historic moment is proof positive that our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact,” said zoo director Brandie Smith.

The arrival of the bears is a result of a new agreement signed with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWSA), the zoo said.

It involves the transfer of two giant pandas recommended for breeding to be under the care of the National Zoo for a decade.

Meanwhile, the National Zoo will pay a $1m (£790,000) annual fee to the CWSA to support their research and conservation efforts.

Both pandas and any of their offspring will remain under the ownership of China, and any cubs born will be moved back to China by the age of four.