New pair of pandas arrive in Macao

A pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Macao Special Administrative Region arrived in Macao on Thursday afternoon. [Photo/Xinhua]

MACAO - A new pair of giant pandas given by China's central government as gifts to the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) arrived here on Thursday.

"Panda is a rare wild animal, also our national treasure, which is beloved and welcomed by the people around the world as a symbol of peace and harmony. Macao people are eager for their coming," Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR Sonia Chan said at the airport together with about 100 pupils.

A male panda, No.726, and a female, No.667, were chosen from 55 candidates following a three-month selection. The pandas, both 110 kg in weight, are also named Kaikai and Xinxin, who died of kidney failure in June last year.

The Macao SAR government said Kaikai will return to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for a breeding plan.

The former Kaikai and Xinxin came to Macao as gifts for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Macao's return to China. The luxury pavilion housing feeding and medical facilities cost some 90 million patacas (11.4 million U.S. dollars).

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the central government will present a pair of giant pandas to the Macao SAR and wished "they would grow up healthily and bring happiness to Macao people" when he visited Macao in December 2014.