Chinese premier promises more pandas and urges Australia to put aside differences

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits Australia, focusing on positive aspects like giant pandas and rebounding wine trade.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia on June 16 focused on positive aspects of the bilateral relationship including shared giant pandas and a rebounding wine trade as he promised a new breeding pair of the rare bears and urged both countries to put aside their differences.

China’s most powerful leader after President Xi Jinping arrived late on June 15 in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia state, which has produced most of the Australian wine entering China since crippling tariffs were lifted in March that had effectively ended a 1.2 billion Australian dollar ($790 million) a year trade since 2020.

Mr. Li visited Adelaide Zoo, which has been home to China-born giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni since 2009, before he was to have lunch at a restaurant at Adelaide winery Penfolds Magill Estate.

He announced that the zoo would be loaned another two pandas after the pair are due to return to China in November.

“China will soon provide another pair of pandas that are equally beautiful, lively, cute and younger to the Adelaide Zoo, and continue the cooperation on giant pandas between China and Australia,” Mr. Li said in Mandarin, adding that zoo staff would be invited to "pick a pair.”

Mr. Li was impressed by the 18-year-old male Wang Wang's appetite and indifference to his high-ranking visitors.

“The panda is very obsessed with eating and doesn’t pay attention to us even when we are the people from its hometown visiting,” Mr. Li said at the panda enclosure.