China sent two giant pandas to the United States on Sunday, state media said, after a Washington summit between the two countries.

The pandas' transfer had been already agreed but the departure was announced on Thursday during President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington.

The black and white mammals are immensely popular around the world, and China loans them out as part of a "panda diplomacy" programme to foster foreign ties.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on a chartered plane at around 3am on Sunday, state news agency Xinhua reported.

They are headed to a zoo in Atlanta, Georgia, where they will spend the next 10-years.

A farewell ceremony was held for the pair before their journey by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (AFP)


Edited by Tony Sabine