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Laos Deputy PM Sisoulith looks at giant panda eating bamboo at giant ganda breeding centre in Ya’an, China.
Laos Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (R) looks at a giant panda eating bamboo at a giant ganda breeding centre in Ya’an, southwest China’s Sichuan province, May 27, 2005. Sisoulith is attending the 6th Western China International Economy & Trade Fair in Chengdu on May 25-28. (Reuters) REUTERS
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Political panda-monium: Black and white unites left and right

Pandas cross all political lines, so China’s deployed some bearish diplomacy tactics
By Maclean's

Here’s a stance that’s hardly politically controversial: Pandas are incredibly cute. So it’s little wonder that China has a long tradition of deploying the adorable fuzzy bears as a form of diplomacy, creating buzzy photo shoots with the usually perplexed animals. From the Obama family to Taiwanese leaders, here’s a peek at some leaders who played politics by getting in a little panda loving.

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