“Pandas are not merely ‘cute’ animals; they embody a profound sense of majesty, while the country that sends them abroad is one of immense power. China’s panda diplomacy serves multiple purposes: enhancing China’s global image, breaking the ice in challenging negotiations, and acting as a tool of scientific diplomacy as well as a symbol of friendship or alliance with the host nation. It is worth noting, however, that Beijing now primarily loans pandas, requiring significant funds in return, which are directed towards the preservation of China’s natural reserves – the very ecosystem that is home to the panda,” explained Dr Bruno Surdel, the senior analyst at CIR-CSM, on TVP World’s show How We Got Here.
