China Embassy welcomes birth of second baby panda

PETALING JAYA: The birth of the new baby panda in Zoo Negara came as a “pleasant surprise” to the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s panda cub Nuan Nuan has a sibling and it’s a world record – thanks to parents Liang Liang and Xing Xing adapting well to the country.
 
In a statement Thursday (Jan 18), the embassy said it welcomed the birth of the second baby panda in Malaysia, and was delighted with the good news.

The giant panda pair broke the world record for having a second baby within four years via natural reproduction.
 
Liang Liang gave birth to the cub weighing 150g at 7.50am on Sunday (Jan 14), 89 days after mating on Oct 18, 2017.

“As we embrace the new year, Xing Xing and Liang Liang brought about good luck and pleasure again to our Malaysian friends,” said the embassy.
 
It said the baby panda would be a new “envoy” of China-Malaysia friendship.
 
“We wish the baby panda would grow up in good health and bring good luck to the China-Malaysia relations,” it added.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced the good news on Wednesday (Jan 17) and said that both mother and cub are doing well.

Malaysia intends to keep the giant panda cub, but the matter must be discussed in detail with China, including the technical and financial factors.

Nuan Nuan, the first Malaysia-born female panda cub, was sent back to China in November last year. 

Xing Xing and Liang Liang came on May 21, 2014 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.