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Feature: Canadian PM reveals names for twin panda cubs

Xinhua, March 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The first giant panda cubs born in Canada have been officially named Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue (Canadian Joy) in a ceremony on Monday attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The newly-named twin cubs will meet the public on March 12. The cubs marked their 100th day in January and are now considered to have survived infancy. Toronto Zoo conservation director William Rapley, who visited China in 1991 to begin his panda conservation research, told Xinhua that chances for twin panda cubs are "extremely rare."

The prime minister said that the panda is "a symbol of peace and friendship" between Canada and China. "The birth of these pandas on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and China is a wonderful coincidence," Trudeau told a crowd of dignitaries and media at the Toronto Zoo.

Canada and China established diplomatic ties on Oct. 13, 1970. On Oct. 13, 2015, the cubs were born to Er Shun, a female giant panda currently on loan to Toronto Zoo from China along with male panda Da Mao.

In a congratulatory message, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the two giant pandas arrived in Canada in 2013, bringing with them friendship from the Chinese people. And now the birth of twins on the very day of the 45th anniversary bodes well. "I am sure the twin cubs, a crystallization of the China-Canada friendship indeed, will grow up to be new messengers to carry forward our friendship," Li said.

According to Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, there are about 2,400 endangered pandas on earth and only 44 of them are living outside China, including the four in Canada. "We will cherish the baby pandas just as we do the friendship," said the ambassador.

On the Chinese New Year, the Toronto Zoo set up a special committee to collect possible names for the pandas and allow Toronto residents to vote for their favorite from a list online.

"Panpan means people are hoping for better relations and Yueyue means people are happy about the achievements," Xue Bing, Chinese Consul General in Toronto, told reporters when asked to explain the names. "The names are great, boding well for better future cooperation between China and Canada."

Currently on loan as part of a long-term conservation breeding program, the giant pandas would stay at the Toronto Zoo until 2018, when they'll move to the Calgary Zoo for another five years. Endi