Beijing offers pandas to repair Australia relationship

The Chinese premier, Li Qiang's arrival in Australia on a four-day visit is the first by a Chinese leader in seven years, which analysts say marks the return of 'panda diplomacy'.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchRegisterSign InHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessFuture of BusinessTechnology of BusinessWork CultureInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersBeijing offers pandas to repair Australia relationship17 minutes agoBy Lipika Pelham, @lipikapelham, BBC NewsSharegettyWang Wang the panda looks on as Chinese premier visits Adelaide ZooChina's Premier Li Qiang has offered to send Australia two new pandas, during his visit to Adelaide Zoo.

Mr Li's arrival in Australia on a four-day trip is the first by a Chinese leader in seven years, which analysts say marks the return of "panda diplomacy".

The new pandas will replace the zoos existing pandas, named Wang Wang and Fu Ni, who are "friendly messengers of China-Australia relations," Mr Li Said.

Both China and Australia will see the visit as central to addressing outstanding trade and consular issues between the two nations.

Mr Li said while Wang Wang and Fu Ni would return to their hometown by the end of the year, he promised that "China will soon provide another pair of pandas that are equally beautiful, lively, cute and younger to the Adelaide Park [Zoo].

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2vv2v6v4vvo

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