As a goodwill move to enhance Chinese-Thai friendship, China has
decided to provide Thailand with a pair of giant pandas, the
country's unique precious animal.
The news was announced by visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng
during his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thursday.
Li
said the Chinese government made this decision in honor of the
revered Thai royal couple, on the occasion that the king of
Thailand will turn 75 years old by the year-end and the queen just
celebrated her 70th birthday last month.
Thaksin said he was excited over the news and expressed sincere
thanks to China on behalf of the whole Thai nation.
Thailand has been requesting China to send a pair of pandas to the
kingdom for a long time since China's giant panda made its debut in
the kingdom six years ago, which charmed the whole Thai nation.
On
the occasion of celebrating two important royal birthdays this
year, the Thai government has formed a special committee headed by
Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to prepare for the
arrival of the Chinese panda pair.
Meanwhile, Thai media reported that the government has started a
project in northern Thai city of Chiang Mai to build an
air-conditioned enclosure with sun-roof for the Chinese panda pair
and is planning to send two specialists from the Chiang Mai Zoo for
training in China's mainland, Hong Kong and the United States to
learn how to take care of pandas.
The kingdom will also hold a nationwide contest for selecting Thai
names for the panda pair.
( September 6, 2002)