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?"
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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]