Two panda bears that have lived in France since 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme fly home from Paris on Tuesday.

The pair of giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi,  have been living at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, central France, where they have become firm favourites among visitors.

Over 200 well-wishers gathered on Sunday to bid the pandas farewell.

New pandas expected 'in the future' — China's embassy

"Rest assured, French friends, new giant pandas will arrive in the future," the AFP news agency quoted Chinese embassy official Chen Dong as saying.

The pandas, who are both aged 17 years old, were meant to have stayed in France until January 2027, but  a decision was made to send them back to China after Huan Huan was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

The pair Huan Huan made their way to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport under heavy police protection for their 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) flight on Tuesday.

Beauval Zoo, when announcing the pair would be leaving, said in September that the pandas "have touched the hearts of millions of visitors, sparked vocations, inspired wonder, and helped raise awareness about the preservation of endangered species."

China's 'panda diplomacy'

China has a history of leasing the iconic pandas to other countries in a bid to build diplomatic ties, dubbed "panda diplomacy."

Cubs born in foreign zoos are typically sent back to China.

The pandas produced three cubs while in France — the first pandas to do so in the country.

Zoo director Rodolphe Delord said the twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at Beauval for now and told AFP he hoped to extend the zoo's partnership with China beyond 2027.

Yuan Meng, the eldest of the offspring, left France for his ancestral China in 2023.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez