China To Loan Malaysia Pair Of Giant Pandas

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- China will loan a pair of Chinese giant pandas to Malaysia for 10 years to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2014. The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in a statement here Monday said an agreement would be signed between the Malaysian government and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) this Friday. "The pandas will be located at the Putrajaya Wetlands, and a nationwide contest to name the pandas would be held to spur interest among Malaysians to learn more about this unique animal. "The presence of the pandas will promote public awareness on panda conservation undertaken by China, and encourage the public to appreciate and learn the importance of biodiversity and wildlife conservation in Malaysia," it said. The panda arrangement was made based on a request by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during Najib's visit to Nanning to officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Malaysia-China Qinzhou Industrial Park in early April. The statement said the agreement would also strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and China which was started during the tenure of the late second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein. "This close relationship has enabled Malaysia to attract more foreign investment from China to further boost the country's economy. The cooperation will also enable Malaysia to conduct conservation research on the giant panda." It said the strength of Malaysia's expertise would be enhanced through techonolgy transfer by China in the field of artificial insemination, and genetic and behavioural studies on the giant panda. -- BERNAMA