On Saturday, Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang attended a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas in the U.S. at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. 

The zoo’s director Brandie Smith said that over the years, China and the U.S. have maintained good communication in the conservation of giant pandas, and have jointly saved endangered species. 

The number of giant pandas has increased from a few hundred 50 years ago to more than 1,800 at present. In his speech to the media, the Ambassador said that this proves that the joint efforts of China and the U.S. can accomplish great things that are beneficial to the world.

Over the past 50 years, diplomacy between China and the U.S. has played out in many ways.

Perhaps the most popular has been through pandas. In 1972, China sent two of them to the U.S. as a goodwill gesture. And their role has remained constant through the countries’ evolving relationship.

CGTN’s Frances Kuo reports.

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