Germany: Panda twins leave for China

DW (English)

Pit and Paule made history as the first-ever panda cubs born in Germany. Now, as part of an agreement, they are joining several other pandas heading to China from around the world. Are we seeing a shift in China's "panda diplomacy?"

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:08 I love pandas. It's looking so interesting.

00:16 [Music]

00:18 [German]

00:25 [German]

00:30 [German]

00:36 [German]

00:43 [Music]

00:56 [German]

01:16 [Music]

01:26 This year is quite a significant year in the history of panda diplomacy,

01:31 because we have pandas from quite a few countries returning to China.

01:37 In Germany's case, it's the cubs returning to China,

01:40 whereas the parents are staying on after being here for a few years.

01:44 It's quite a different situation with the pandas from both the US and the UK.

01:50 In the case of the remaining pandas in Australia and the US,

01:53 there were lease terms coming to an end from at least what has been reported,

01:59 the Chinese side not willing to renew the leases without giving much explanation.

02:04 There have been quite a few countries where panda leases were continued.

02:08 For example, in the case of the Netherlands, of Denmark,

02:11 we have new leases, for example, to Qatar since 2022.

02:15 That's where you have that strong connection with just shifting relations between countries.

02:20 [Music]

02:22 It's quite interesting and significant that Xi Jinping said in August

02:27 that he's aware of the continued interest of the United States to host pandas from China.

02:35 And with that comes a political demand, right?

02:38 That is an expression of China's interest and to some extent condition of friendly relations,

02:46 if it hands out any more pandas.

02:49 So you have that political component as part of panda diplomacy by design.

02:55 [Music]

03:00 The Zoo Berlin is of course in constant exchange with colleagues in Chengdu, in the panda base.

03:06 [Music]

Category

Transcript

Recommended