The panda relationship subsequently became more sophisticated – and more expensive. China stopped giving pandas away in the 1980s and shifted to long-term loans, generally for conservation and research, with cubs born abroad eventually returning to China.

TOI Correspondent from Washington: The United States and China may disagree about tariffs, technology, Taiwan and the future of the world order. But there is apparently one subject on which they can find common ground: everybody loves pandas.

Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, are arriving in Atlanta on Monday, just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington. Their arrival adds a furry footnote to a summit heavy on symbolism and somewhat lighter on earth-shaking breakthroughs.

The pandas are headed for a 10-year stay at Zoo Atlanta under a conservation agreement. They travelled in considerably greater comfort than most travelers.

Handlers packed steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots and carrots for their 15-hour FedEx flight. Experienced American keepers accompanied them.

The Atlanta zoo upgraded their quarters and arranged a steady supply of locally grown bamboo. A little more tantrum from Beijing and liveried waiters with silver platters could be standing byChina, of course, is the undisputed grandmaster of this branch of statecraft.

In 1972, after Richard Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing, First Lady Pat Nixon is said to have mentioned her affection for pandas to Premier Zhou Enlai. Two months later, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived at Washington’s National Zoo.

The Americans reciprocated with two musk oxen, Milton and Matilda, now long forgotten. The panda relationship subsequently became more sophisticated – and more expensive.

China stopped giving pandas away in the 1980s and shifted to long-term loans, generally for conservation and research, with cubs born abroad eventually returning to China. Washington’s panda romance has therefore gone through several seasons: Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing; then Tian Tian and Mei Xiang; their famous cubs Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei; the tearful departure of the family in 2023; and the arrival in 2024 of Bao Li and Qing Bao.

The Smithsonian says the new agreement runs through 2034. The spirit animating panda diplomacy is obvious.

Pandas are cute, photogenic, rare and almost aggressively non-threatening. Put two world leaders beside a trade dispute, and everybody looks grim; put two pandas beside the same dispute and suddenly it's all cute and cuddly.