On November 6, 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said in his remarks at the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove at Zoo Atlanta that the arrival of the new pair of pandas is a vivid testament to practical subnational cooperation between China and the United States. The State of Georgia is a blessed land known for its openness and inclusiveness. It is the home state of President Jimmy Carter, who, with extraordinary political courage and vision, made the historic decision to establish diplomatic ties with China, and called it one of the most correct decisions he had ever made in his life. His Excellency David Perdue, current U.S. Ambassador to China, is also from Georgia.

Coca-Cola based in the state returned to the Chinese market in the early days of China’s reform and opening-up, and has ever since been deeply involved in our country’s development. Today, its products have become a sweet companion of numerous Chinese households. Other local business leaders, such as UPS, the Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines, see China as a core strategic market too. Remaining the No. 1 state for business in the United States, Georgia is also a top choice for many Chinese investors. Ambassador Xie said he believes that the new pair of giant pandas will instill fresh vitality into practical cooperation between China and Georgia, including the city of Atlanta, and will usher in a new phase in China-U.S. subnational engagement.