Zoo Atlanta visitors eager to see giant pandas Ping Ping, Fu Shuang

Visitors to Zoo Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia are counting down the days until they can catch their first glimpses of giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, who arrived Sunday morning under a new 10-year conservation agreement and are now settling in ahead of their highly anticipated public debut.

The pair departed from China's Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province on a chartered flight at 02:55 on Sunday.

The two pandas are in good health. They have begun a routine quarantine period of about one month before making their debut to the public.

"I'm excited. I love pandas. They're so cute. They look squishy," said Nikki Roberts, a zoo visitor.

The pandas' arrival at the zoo is part of a cooperative research program between China and the United States to advance giant panda conservation. For some visitors, the bears carry a bigger message about ties between the two countries.

"I think it's a good step in the right direction. I think, things have been pretty tough lately, but I think this could be a good step in the right direction," said Terry Xie, a student at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Atlanta has traversed this path before. Its first pair arrived in 1999 and had seven cubs, including two sets of twins. The family flew home to China in 2024.

"We saw them here a couple of years ago, and it was a joy to watch them. They were very playful. And I hated to see them go. I was looking forward to seeing them again," said Steve Frantz, another zoo visitor.

The male panda, Ping Ping, born on March 17, 2020, is easily recognizable due to his large, dark eye rims. He has a stocky build, moves nimbly, and has demonstrated proficiency in climbing trees, often resting among the branches.

Fu Shuang, the female panda, born on October 18, 2020, is characterized by a small tuft of fluffy fur on her head and a full, protruding forehead. With a round appearance, she is quick to react and very capable of foraging for food.

China will work with all relevant parties to participate in the selection of the next United Nations secretary-general in a responsible manner, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

"The selection of the UN Secretary-General bears on the reform and development of the United Nations and the vital interests of member states. China supports selecting a new Secretary-General who abides by the UN Charter and is highly capable, fair and upright, and fully committed to their duties, in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter. China will work with all relevant parties and take part in the secretary-general selection process in a responsible manner," said Guo.

Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term of office expires at the end of this year, and the next secretary-general will take over the role on Jan. 1, 2027.