China plans to send San Diego Zoo more pandas, reigniting panda diplomacy

Bai Yun gets a mouthful of bamboo at the San Diego Zoo (Lenny Ignelzi, AP)

China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its long-standing gesture of friendship toward the United States.

It comes after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to US zoos were returned as relations began to sour between the two nations.