the first Panda Express restaurant in the Philippines opened at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. This was followed by a branch in SM City North EDSA in Quezon City in 2021. As of February 2023, it now has twelve operational branches in the Philippines, all located in the Greater Manila Area. The first Panda Express in Russia opened in Moscow in September 2018. However, in March 2022, Panda Express has ceased all corporate support, including operations, marketing, and supply chain in response to the Russian war against Ukraine. Panda Express previously had eight sites in Japan that were operated under a franchise agreement that later lapsed. In November 2016, the company returned to the country by opening a new restaurant in Kawasaki. This restaurant is operated as part of a joint partnership with Ippudo. As of August 2022, were nine restaurants in the country. In October 2020, the South China Morning Post reported that a fake Panda Express restaurant in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming had been reported for trademark infringement, and was closed during an investigation. The reportedly fake restaurant used the same Panda Express logo, and its menu reportedly included the same Kung Pao Chicken and Tangerine Peel Chicken as the company's restaurants. In August 2022, Panda Express opened its first European site in Kaiserslautern Military Community Center food court, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Philanthropy In 1999, Panda Express launched Panda Cares to give back to the community. They provide funding, food and volunteer services to children in need and disaster relief efforts. The company installed donation boxes in all the Panda Express restaurants in 2010. The charity has raised $107 million, with $89 million coming from in-store donation boxes, and $41 million has been donated to "The Leader In Me", a program to teach leadership and life skills that has been rolled out to 865 elementary schools in 39 states. The organization has also donated $37 million to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, to support medical costs for poor children, and also supports disaster relief efforts. See also List of Chinese restaurants References Further reading - Asia Society, Southern California. Andrew Cherng interview, The Tavis Smiley Show, original airdate November 14, 2006. Jennings, Lisa, "Having words with Peggy Tsiang Cherng: chief executive and co-chair, Panda Restaurant Group", Nation's Restaurant News, August 1, 2005. "panda express feedback", @Mizzou, University of Missouri, Alumni Association magazine, January 2004. Panda Restaurant Group