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Monday 30 January 2017

What does China make people promise to do when it lends them a panda?

When China gives a zoo a panda, it tends to be accompanied by the signing of a document usually called a "cooperative research and breeding agreement" pipeline.
The Smithsonian Institute sent me a copy of the most recent agreement, from 2011, in effect between China and the U.S. governing the two pandas at the  D.C. National Zoo. I've posted it here: http://web.mit.edu/mherdeg/Publi.... This agreement might well mirror other similar agreements that China has with other countries.
Here are some of the highlights:
  1. The U.S. pays China $500,000 per year, of which 70% goes to conservation of the giant panda in China, 20% goes to the Wolong China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and 10% goes to fees and expenses.
  2. This contract took effect on Jan 20 2011, but the prior contract expired on Dec 6 2010! There was a brief period when there was no contract at all governing the pandas! Panda anarchy! (*This* contract says that, retroactively, the old one was in effect.)
  3. The pandas belong to China and so do any of their offspring. If there are any offspring, they must be returned to China before they turn four years old.
  4. The agreement expressly forbids panda cloning research:

    Without prior written approval from the Chinese Party, the American Party shall not conduct any activity beyond the term of this Agreement related to the above mentioned giant pandas or their offspring, nor shall the American Party collect samples such as genetic materials of the giant panda for scientific research or transfer any samples to a third party.

    The American Party may conduct routine health examination or other necessary activity for emergency anesthesia without approval by the Chinese Party, however, it shall keep record of such activity and preserve any samples collected during the process, and return such record and sample to the Chinese Party upon expiration or termination of this Agreement."
  5. America must buy a $1 million panda life insurance policy for each panda who is more than 180 days old. China is the sole beneficiary.
  6. If a panda dies because of American misconduct and the panda is more than 18 months old, America has to pay China $800,000.
  7. "If one of the giant pandas (not including their offspring) dies during the term of this Agreement, both Parties shall friendly negotiate whether to replace the dead one with another panda and whether to maintain the existing giant panda."
  8. "This Agreement, written in both Chinese and English languages, both versions shall have the exact legal effect. If conflict exists in the two versions, the Chinese version overrides English version and shall be used as the basis for clarification."


----https://www.quora.com/What-does-China-make-people-promise-to-do-when-it-lends-them-a-panda/answer/Michael-McGraw-Herdeg#_=_

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