San Francisco zoo to receive pandas from China

San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Friday announced that her city would receive a pair of giant pandas from China next year, in what will mark the city's first time hosting the species for a lengthy period.

"San Francisco is absolutely thrilled to be welcoming giant pandas to the San Francisco Zoo," Breed said at the announcement in Beijing, according to the Associated Press.

China has, for decades, pursued a policy of so-called "panda diplomacy," in which the country loans the species to other nations to foster goodwill. Last year, however, China announced that the pandas at the Washington Smithsonian National Zoo would return home after 23 years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping in November of that year, suggested the country would send more to the U.S.

"I was told that many American people, especially children, were really reluctant to say goodbye to the pandas, and went to the zoo to see them off. I also learned that the San Diego Zoo and the Californians very much look forward to welcoming pandas back," he said. "Pandas have long been envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples."

At the announcement with Breed, Secretary General Wu Minglu of the China Wildlife Conservation Association indicated his organization would work with San Francisco authorities to prepare for the arrival of the pandas.

"We look forward to a pair of giant pandas being in San Francisco in 2025," he said.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.