Malaysia welcomes new giant panda couple "Chen Xing", "Xiao Yue"

Malaysia has welcomed the arrival of a new pair of giant pandas, "Chen Xing" and "Xiao Yue," with the pair touching down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Tuesday.

The plane carrying the pandas, who were born in 2020, received a water cannon salute after landing on the airport runway.

Male panda "Chen Xing" is described as robust and outgoing, while the female "Xiao Yue" is rounder and more docile.

On the evening of their arrival, representatives from both countries gathered at the airport to welcome the pandas. Meanwhile, over 60 kilometers away, a large gathering of local fans gathered in front of Zoo Negara, the country's national zoo, eagerly awaiting the bears.

"I am so excited and thrilled. I don't know how to describe and express our joy at welcoming the new pandas," said a gatherer.

The pandas later arrived and settled in their new home at the zoo. They will undergo a quarantine period before being introduced to the Malaysian public.

China-Malaysia cooperation on giant panda conservation began in 2014, when panda pair "Fu Wa" and "Feng Yi" were sent to Malaysia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations. They lived in Malaysia for 11 years, during which they gave birth to three cubs, before returning to China in May this year.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, a joint statement signed in 2024 by both countries announced their agreement to continue cooperative research on giant panda conservation, expressing hopes for further progress in the field.