Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that two giant pandas, symbols of China-U.S. friendship, will be newly sent to the United States.

Speaking at a welcome ceremony held ahead of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on the 24th (local time), President Xi said, "Giant pandas have served as envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples."

"I have some good news," President Xi stated. "In a few days, two pandas, 'Pingping' and 'Fushuang,' will arrive at their new home at the Atlanta Zoo to meet the American people."

According to information released by Zoo Atlanta on its website, both pandas were born in 2020, with Pingping being male and Fushuang female.

China has long engaged in so-called "panda diplomacy," sending pandas to other countries to strengthen friendly relations.

Currently, there are a total of four pandas in the United States: two at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and two at the San Diego Zoo.

The two countries have continued joint panda research since 1999.

At that time, giant pandas "Yangyang" and "Lunlun" successfully reproduced seven cubs at Zoo Atlanta, all of which have now returned to the panda base in Chengdu, China.

Along with this, President Xi announced that China will invite 100,000 American youths to China over the next five years to provide them with exchange and learning opportunities.

In his speech, President Xi emphasized the need to expand cooperation and communication, stating, "Both China and the United States are great nations. As two major powers, we benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation."

(Photo: Yonhap News)