Panda Diplomacy

This video explores the development of “panda diplomacy,” which began in 1972 when China donated a panda to the Smithsonian in commemoration of President Nixon’s historic visit. Since then, pandas have put a “furry, friendly face” on Sino-American relations. The recent naming of the second American-born panda has reemphasized the importance of panda diplomacy, with U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama remarking that “these remarkable animals stand as a symbol of the growing connections between our two countries.”