China Recognises Malaysia As Special With Giant Panda Loan, Says Malaysian Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- China's gesture in lending a pair of giant pandas shows that the Asian economic powerhouse recognises Malaysia as a special country, said Malaysian Minister in Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon (right) Tuesday night. He said the gesture was a symbol of goodwill representing the harmony and unity of the two nations for the past 38 years. "It is certainly a good sign to prove the spirit of solidarity between Malaysia and China," he told reporters after opening the Malaysia-China People's Friendship Photo Exhibition organised by the biggest media group in China, Xinhua News Agency, in Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Also present at the event were China's ambassador to Malaysia, Chai Xi (second from right); Xinhua Kuala Lumpur Bureau chief correspondent Hu Guang Yao and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong. On Monday, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said that China would be lending a pair of giant pandas to Malaysia for 10 years, to be housed at the Wetland Park in Putrajaya, to commemorate the 40th diplomatic anniversary between the two countries in 2014. An agreement on the giant panda loan would be signed by the Malaysian government and the China Wildlife Conservation Association this Friday. Commenting on the photo exhibition, Koh said, it portrayed the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China since the time of second prime minister, the late Abdul Razak Hussein. The exhibition, ending June 30, was in collaboration with the United Youth Movement of Malaysia (GBBM) and Malaysian Association of China Students Alumni (MACSA), sponsored by one of the top five real estate developers in China, Country Garden Holdings and supported by the Chinese embassy here. On display are photographs of the milestones of Malaysia-China bilateral ties, including Abdul Razak's meeting with the late Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing in 1974, that of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and snapshots of Chinese corporate leaders and students living in Malaysia. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA