China offers France new panda pair during Macron visit

France is set to receive two new giant pandas from China, in an agreement made during French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the country.

The China Wildlife Conservation Association announced that a panda pair is to arrive at France’s Beauval Zoo in Saint Aignan in 2027, after signing a corresponding letter of intent on Thursday.

A new cooperation between France and China on the protection of the Giant Panda is to last 10 years, starting once two young animals still living in France have been returned to the People’s Republic.

Macron is visiting Beijing and the south-western province of Szechuan, the main habitat of pandas. China’s panda-breeding centre is located in the provincial capital Chengdu.

Animal rights activists generally criticize keeping pandas in zoos, arguing that it is often associated with behavioural disorders and a lack of socialization.

Beijing practises so-called panda diplomacy, loaning the bears to friendly states.

Countries that have pandas in their zoos tend to have stable and long-standing relations with Beijing. Germany, for example, has a panda enclosure in one of its Berlin zoos.

The animals are considered popular zoo attractions, while serving as ambassadors for China.

In Chengdu, Macron again met Chinese President Xi Jinping for informal talks. It is very rare for Xi to accompany a foreign state visitor within China.

Macron wrote on X of receiving “a reception marked by friendship” in Chengdu.