You can't have a conversation about China without talking about pandas!  I asked a senior Chinese military official two years ago whether or not China funds any cultural diplomacy efforts besides lending out panda bears to zoos.  His answer was unfortunately no.  I had asked a senior American diplomat (and Brown grad) whether or not America funds any cultural diplomacy efforts.  His answer was that American culture proliferates itself.

I leave you to draw your own conclusions.  But I think the two countries have much in common on that aspect of foreign policy.

Here are some cute photos from the Chengdu National Panda preserve.  It is where all the pandas that are loaned out to zoos around the world are bred.  Chengdu is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites for cuisine and well worth a visit.

Mom and baby