Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sungwhan (left) on Jan. 5 holds talks with Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu (right) at the latter’s headquarters in Beijing. (Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment)

By Yoon Sojung

President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to China is expected to expedite a second round of "panda diplomacy" following the lending of Fu Bao, a giant panda symbolizing bilateral friendship.

With the dispatch of additional pandas on loan to Korea on the agenda of the latest bilateral summit on Jan. 4 in Beijing, expectations are growing for working-level talks on the matter.

National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac on Jan. 5 told a news briefing on the summit's results at a media center in Beijing, "Our side raised the issue of additional lending of giant pandas, a symbol of bilateral friendship, to China, and the Chinese side agreed to continue working-level negotiations."

Four giant pandas live in Korea including twin sisters Rui Bao and Hui Bao. Fu Bao, the first cub born to the panda couple after arriving in the country in 2016, was returned to China in April 2024.

Fu Bao's return attracted global media attention including from The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Reuters and AFP. The bid to lend more pandas to Korea is seen as an attempt to solidify bilateral friendly ties inspired by Fu Bao.

Seoul and Beijing also raised bilateral cooperation in the environment.

Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sungwhan and Liu Guohong, director of China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, on Jan. 6 in Beijing reviewed the results of bilateral panda cooperation and agreed to strengthen it.

Their talks were an extension of the summit held the day before between the environment ministers of both countries. Minister Kim and Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the environment and climate and discussed concrete implementation.

Under the agreement, Seoul said the scope of environmental cooperation was widened from air quality issues such as fine and yellow dust to the overall sector including climate change, circular economy and nature conservation.

arete@korea.kr