China launches 'panda diplomacy', calls France an 'irreplaceable' trade partner

France will welcome a new pair of pandas in 2027 under a cooperation agreement recently renewed by China, marking a new push by the two countries to step up research, breeding and conservation of the iconic species.

Panda Yuan Zi plays in his cage at Beauval Zoo on October 24 - Photo: REUTERS

France will receive a new pair of pandas in 2027 as part of an agreement to extend panda conservation cooperation with Beauval Zoo for another 10 years, according to a December 5 announcement from the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

The move comes as French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting China and meeting with President Xi Jinping, echoing Beijing's long-standing "panda diplomacy " strategy.

Under the new agreement, China will send a pair of pandas to Beauval to replace Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, who returned to China last November after more than a decade in France.

The arrival of the bears has helped boost visitor numbers to Beauval, from 600,000 a year to 2 million by 2024.

Their twin cubs, Huan Lili and Yuan Dudu, will remain in Beauval. China said the renewed cooperation and the additional pandas are part of a joint effort to strengthen research, breeding and conservation of the iconic species.

Using pandas as "friendship ambassadors" has been a Chinese tradition since the 1950s.

Whereas pandas were once considered diplomatic gifts to friendly countries, today they are mainly loaned out as part of conservation programs lasting about 10 years. The receiving zoos are responsible for caring for them and contribute financially to panda conservation in China.

President Macron's visit to China lasted three days, with the last day spent in Chengdu, where he and President Xi emphasized cultural and environmental cooperation.

However, deeper economic and political issues, such as trade, investment or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have yet to make significant progress.

The visit also did not result in any major trade agreements. The commitments mainly revolved around enhancing cooperation in a number of limited areas, such as exporting dried alfalfa to China.

President Macron also called on China to expand investment in France to narrow the long trade gap between the two sides. He stressed that Europe needs to build clearer mechanisms to attract investment capital, in the context of China's huge trade surplus posing a major challenge to the regional economy .

On the Chinese side, Mr. Tap described France as an "irreplaceable" trade partner and expressed support for Chinese businesses to increase investment in the country, Bloomberg reported.

HA DAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trung-quoc-tung-ngoai-giao-gau-truc-goi-phap-la-doi-tac-thuong-mai-khong-the-thay-the-20251205175852109.htm