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Lawmaker hopes to bring a new Chinese panda to NYC

New York City Rep. Carolyn Maloney is embarking on an exploratory trip to China next week in the hopes of bringing the first panda in nearly 30 years to the Big Apple.

The Chinese government has expressed strong interest in handing over one of its prized possessions to the 68-year-old politician, who was invited by Chinese officials to visit the Chengdu Research base of giant panda breeding in the Sichuan province.

She will visit the site on Aug. 12.

If the Manhattan Democrat gets her way, the loveable, endangered creature will travel around the world to take over prime real estate at the Central Park Zoo.

“Would we ever let our American eagle go abroad? This is a big deal,” Maloney told The Post. “I’ve been working on this for years.”

Rep. Carolyn MaloneyMark Von Holden

It costs about $1 million per year to care for a panda in captivity. If the city approves the project, officials will seek private funding.

According to Maloney, deputy mayors Alicia Glen and Tony Shorris expressed interest, and Mayor de Blasio personally gave her the thumbs up.

“Pandas are a symbol of good luck,” Maloney said.“New York needs some good luck and happiness. We’ve had 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, the housing crisis.”

“I know a panda would be a great joy to every schoolchild.”

Pandas also are a tourism boom. There are 12 giant pandas living in zoos in the United States — three at the Smithsonian National Zoo in D.C., three at the San Diego Zoo, two at the Memphis Zoo and four at Zoo Atlanta.

“Its extraordinary type of thing, not every city or state has a Panda, it would be another item on our menu that enhances New York as a destination,” said John Tsunis, chairman of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association.

Giant pandas haven’t called New York City home since the 1980s when the Beijing zoo lent two pandas — Ling Ling & Yun Yun (pictured) — to the Bronx Zoo for a short period of time.

Then-Mayor Edward Koch heavily lobbied for pandas during his time in office, so much so that he became known in China as “the guy who wants the pandas,” according to the New York Times.

It is estimated that there are about 1,600 giant pandas in existence.

“The City is happy to explore the prospect with Congresswoman Maloney,” City Hall spokesperson Ishanee Parikh said in a statement.