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'Panda diplomacy' builds relationships, fills coffers

China engages in "panda diplomacy", using the endangered but iconic bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries, and also runs a lucrative trade hiring the animals out to foreign zoos, as only around 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity.Related story -- Malaysian appeal to name pandas backfiresRelated story -- Panda diplomacy: China to give two to CanadaRelated st
Visitors take photographs of a panda in an enclosure at the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, China, June 24, as thousands of visitors gather for the Duanwu festival or better known as the Dragon Boat festival.
Visitors take photographs of a panda in an enclosure at the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, China, June 24, as thousands of visitors gather for the Duanwu festival or better known as the Dragon Boat festival.AFP - Getty Images / Today

China engages in "panda diplomacy", using the endangered but iconic bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries, and also runs a lucrative trade hiring the animals out to foreign zoos, as only around 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity.

Related story -- Malaysian appeal to name pandas backfires

Related story -- Panda diplomacy: China to give two to Canada

Related story -- How Panda diplomacy changed into Panda commerce

Workers show off the baby pandas at the Giant Panda Research Base.
Workers show off the baby pandas at the Giant Panda Research Base.AFP - Getty Images / Today

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