Panda fever grips Berlin on Chinese president's trip to Germany

Bears become diplomatic symbol of a ‘new beginning’ between the two countries as Merkel welcomes Xi ahead of G20

Already their names – Meng Meng and Jiao Qing – trip easily off the tongues of young Berliners, a reflection of the huge build-up there has been ahead of the unveiling of the pair of young giant pandas in the German capital on Wednesday.

Panda fever, which has gripped the city for weeks, reached its peak when the red velvet curtain of their €9m (£7.9m) glass enclosure was drawn to reveal the bamboo-chewing newcomers – a three-year-old female and a seven-year-old male – unaware of the considerable diplomatic responsibility that has been placed upon their shoulders.

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