The White House has welcomed the possibility of China returning giant pandas to the United States as a gesture of friendship.
In a speech to American business leaders on Wednesday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping hinted that the cuddly-looking black-and-white bears could return to the US, mentioning California as a possible destination but not Washington, where the National Zoo had to bid farewell to its beloved trio of giant pandas last week.
The pandas have been goodwill ambassadors to the US capital for years. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the giant panda is the rarest member of the bear family and one of the world’s most threatened animals.