San Francisco Mayor London Breed is rolling out the bamboo carpet this week in China, leading a 30-member delegation to reignite business ties—and, just maybe, bring giant pandas back to the Bay Area.
‘Panda diplomacy is a bridge-builder,’ Breed declared in Shenzhen, emphasizing her push to secure the beloved bears for the San Francisco Zoo. ‘Imagine the excitement—for our city, our kids, and our future!’ The mayor sees the cuddly ambassadors as key to boosting tourism and re-establishing San Francisco as a hub for innovation amid recent economic challenges.
A delegation member echoed the sentiment: ‘Pandas could revitalize our city’s spirit and economy.’ Breed’s trip also focuses on expanding tech and cultural collaborations with the Chinese mainland, leveraging San Francisco’s reputation as a gateway between the U.S. and Asia.
Why pandas? These black-and-white icons have long been symbols of cross-cultural goodwill. Past U.S. panda loans, like those at the National Zoo, drew millions of visitors. Now, San Francisco hopes to join the club—and write a new chapter in U.S.-China ‘soft diplomacy.’
The mayor sees the cuddly ambassadors as key to boosting tourism and re-establishing San Francisco as a hub for innovation amid recent economic challenges.
Breed’s trip also focuses on expanding tech and cultural collaborations with the Chinese mainland, leveraging San Francisco’s reputation as a gateway between the U.S. and Asia.
Now, San Francisco hopes to join the club—and write a new chapter in U.S.-China ‘soft diplomacy.’
