Two hugely popular pandas are set to depart from a Tokyo zoo for China on Tuesday, leaving Japan without any of the beloved bears for the first time in more than 50 years.

Japan's Ueno Zoo is returning the country's last two pandas to China at a time when relationships between the two countries have hit an all time low.

Japanese fans rushed to farewell the country’s last two pandas on Sunday ahead of their return to China, in a departure that highlights strained relations between the two countries. Twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will leave Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo today after meeting their fans for the last time on the weekend.

CNBC's China reporter Elaine Yu chats with Squawk Box Asia anchors Martin Soong and Chery Kang about the so-called "panda diplomacy", as Japan is due to return two pandas to China amid rising tensions.

Fans gathered at a Tokyo zoo on Sunday to bid farewell to the last two giant pandas in the country, long a symbol of Sino-Japanese fr