China oil deal aided by ‘panda diplomacy’

CANADA’S prime minister Stephen Harper wrapped up a visit to China aimed at boosting oil sales by announcing yesterday that Beijing will lend two of the country’s prized giant pandas to Canadian zoos.

Harper visited a zoo in the south-western city of Chongqing to say that the Chinese government is loaning the panda pair to Canada for the next ten years, said Harper’s press secretary, Carl Vallee.

News photos showed Harper looking on as his wife carried a squirming baby panda.

The pandas are expected to arrive in Canada early next year and will go to the Toronto and Calgary zoos for five years each. The giant panda is unique to China and is regularly sent abroad as a sign of warm diplomatic relations or to mark breakthroughs in ties.

Harper also met Bo Xilai, Chongqing’s Communist Party secretary, yesterday, Vallee said.

One of China’s most prominent political figures, Bo has been the subject of speculation in recent days after his once-close aide, former police chief Wang Lijun, went to the US consulate in a nearby city purportedly to seek asylum.

Wang’s whereabouts are unknown. The uncertainty has fuelled speculation over a falling-out between Wang and Bo, who has been seen as manoeuvring for a seat on the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, which will appoint new members later this year.

The loan to China follows a similar ten-year loan granted to Edinburgh Zoo as the Chinese authorities woo western governments with “panda diplomacy”.

Tian Tian and Yuan Guan arrived in Scotland at the end of last year with hopes high that the pair will produce cubs.

China sees panda loans as a method of cementing links with other governments at a time when it is trying to build economic influence around the world while fending off allegations of human rights abuses.