White House: We will welcome pandas if China sends them

- The White House announced on Thursday that the United States would "fully welcome" China's return of pandas that it had previously withdrawn from American zoos, a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping hinted that new bears might be sent to the United States. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “Obviously we appreciate their presence here, and we respect the sovereign decision that China has taken to return some pandas.” He added: “If China makes a decision to return some pandas to the United States, we would absolutely welcome that.”

There are only 4 pandas left in the United States after 3 of them were withdrawn earlier this month, and the remaining bears are scheduled to return to China at the end of 2024. Xi suggested on Wednesday that China send new pandas to the United States, describing them as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples,” in the latest gesture aimed at easing tense relations between the two powers.

“I learned that the zoos in San Diego and California are very much looking forward to the return of the pandas,” Xi told US business leaders during a speech in San Francisco on Wednesday. He added: "We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation and do our best to fulfill the wishes of Californians in order to deepen friendly relations between our two peoples."

Earlier this month, three pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington returned to China, marking an end to more than 50 years of Chinese pandas at the zoo. The Smithsonian National Zoo was the first US zoo to display pandas as part of what is called "panda diplomacy."