Panda bears in Nashville? "Anything is possible"

State of play: China has gradually taken back its panda bears as long-standing agreements with U.S. zoos ended. The bears' return to China coincides with frosty relations between the two nations.

• Zoo Atlanta is the only American zoo with pandas on display, and its bears are expected to be returned by this time next year.

What he's saying: "I was told that many American people, especially children, were really reluctant to say goodbye to the pandas, and went to the zoo to see them off," Xi said during the dinner, according to NBC News. "I also learned that the San Diego Zoo and the Californians very much look forward to welcoming pandas back."

• Xi added that pandas have been "envoys of friendship" between the U.S. and China. He said China is ready to continue "our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation."

The intrigue: Since the Nashville Zoo has been rapidly expanding in recent years, it begs the question of whether pandas would be a good fit.

• "Nashville Zoo has been growing wild since 1997 and we have a lot of room to expand," spokesperson Jim Bartoo told Axios over email. "Currently, our focus is developing habitats for African species. While we have not considered giant pandas in our future, anything is possible."

Go deeper: A road trip to see the Atlanta pandas before they leave is worthwhile