China, U.S., Paul Gibson discussed on Monocle 24: The Foreign Desk

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And it sort of symbolizes long-term friendly relationship. We are at least in the Chinese mind that the recipient country is going to host a living national treasure of China. When you put it like that, that's quite significant. From what we know of past experience of panda diplomacy, what conditions does China imposed upon or request from the host country? Like, how big a thing is that to prepare to host a couple of pandas? Oh, it's a big deal. So the host country. And it's actually not a host country actually, and it's the host Sue, which is a private enterprise or can be charity. So first of all, they will have to demonstrate that they have the technical animal husbandry capacity to host a very difficult to keep animal. That is non trivial, having that. So it's only the more established, well resources can do it. Then, of course, they have to have the place to keep them. I mean, you're looking at 9, 10 million U.S., but the enclosure of the exhibit for it. And then you also have to lease it from the Chinese state. And it's roughly a $1 million a year to do that. So you sort of checked out that you've got the technical ability to leave it, because this is good, because everybody will be embarrassed if one of the China's died. It just wasn't great. You need to demonstrate that you've got the business button, I suppose, to be able to maintain a panda or a pair of pandas during the period of their lease. Paul, thank you for joining us that was doctor Paul Gibson of the University of Oxford you're listening to the foreign desk. Sending.

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