Xi Jinping brought Trump a gift that will cost him

China has sent two giant pandas—Ping Ping and Fuquan—to the United States, where they will soon take up residence at the Atlanta Zoo. This was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

According to the Chinese leader, the giant panda has always served as a symbol of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. The animal’s name, Fuchuan, translates as “double blessing,” while Ping Ping means “peace, peace.”

For decades, Beijing has used “panda diplomacy” as a tool of soft power: initially, the animals were gifted to other countries, but since 1984, they have been leased exclusively for an annual fee of $1 million per animal. Both the pandas themselves and their offspring remain the property of the PRC. During periods of heightened international tension, Beijing usually recalls the pandas home, and once an understanding is reached, returns them to American zoos. Currently, the Atlanta Zoo remains the only one in the U.S. that houses these animals.

Source: “RBC-Ukraine.”

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