Giant pandas return to San Diego Zoo with fanfare

California celebrated the return of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, in a ceremony that attracted large crowds, dignitaries and the media.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are the first giant pandas to enter the US in over two decades, quelling fears that thawing US-China relations had put an end to "panda diplomacy."

"This is about something much deeper, much richer, than just the two beautiful pandas we celebrate," California Governor Gavin Newsom said at the opening ceremony. "It's about celebrating our common humanity. It's about celebrating the things that bind us together."

The welcome ceremony included traditional Chinese dances and speeches from Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng and other local officials.

"Two little panda fans from California wrote several letters to me proposing giving China grizzly bears to get pandas," Xie said, eliciting laughs.

Meet the pandas

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived at the San Diego Zoo in June and were acclimatizing before being revealed to the public. Both were born in the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in China's Sichuan province.

Yun, described by the zoo as "mild-mannered, gentle and lovable," is a nearly 5-year-old male panda.

His ancestors Bai Yun and Gao Gao both lived at the San Diego Zoo for over a decade, while his mother, Zhen Zhen, was the fourth cub born at the zoo.

Xin is a nearly 4-year-old female described as a "gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears."

"Her name means a treasure of prosperity and abundance, and we hope she will bring you good luck," Ambassador Xie said.

Restarting 'panda diplomacy'

China has long used "panda diplomacy" to enhance relations with countries across the world, especially the US, while also promoting the conservation of the vulnerable species.

Whenever relations worsened, Beijing often recalled some of its pandas in a show of disagreement.

Tensions soared amid recent friction between Washington and Beijing over trade competition, Taiwan, Russia and the South China Sea, seemingly freezing the long-observed loaning of pandas to the United States.

Only four other pandas currently reside in the US, all in Atlanta.

However, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that Beijing would continue the program in the US during a key summit with US President Joe Biden.

More pandas are expected to arrive at the zoos in Washington and San Francisco by 2025.(AP, Reuters, AFP)<>