Mei Lun and Mei Huan at the Atlanta Zoo in Atlanta, Georgia, May 22, 2015. (Photo/Xinhua)
1994-now cooperative breeding
The cooperative breeding program replaced the renting project in 1994. Under the new agreement, a receiving country needs to pay China $10 million for a 10-year loan of giant pandas. Two giant pandas were sent to Japan as scientific research envoys for the first time in 1994.
During the past 22 years, the effect of the project has been well received as this kind of cooperation proved to be more beneficial for the comprehensive research on giant pandas.
Mei Lun, Mei Huan and Bao Bao are all part of the 10-year China-US cooperative breeding project which started in 2000.
According to the cooperative breeding agreement between China and the US, all cubs born in the US should move to China when they are 4 years old. Now four US zoos - in Washington, Atlanta, Memphis and San Diego - now house giant pandas.
By now, China has built long-term cooperative projects with 14 countries with a total of 48 giant pandas living abroad.
Giant pandas' decades of diplomatic service has won them worldwide adoration and made them the most successful ambassadors of China. Nearly 60 years later, the fever for these Chinese cuties has not cooled.
Though the young pandas' departures may be heart-breaking for Americans at present, one thing we can be sure of is that the giant pandas will keep bringing joy and happiness to people across the world.
