More pandas will be coming to the U.S., China's president signals

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji plays at his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington in September. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

SAN FRANCISCO — Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that China will send new pandas to the United States, calling them "envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples."

"We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples," Xi said Wednesday during a dinner speech with business leaders.