MCOT
CHIANG MAI, June 2 (TNA) – Thailand plans to negotiate with China to extend the visiting pandas’ sojourn in the kingdom and will set up a permanent panda research centre here, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

Mr. Suwit said after having officially issued a birth certificate to the baby panda delivered by female panda Lin Hui that Thailand is preparing to negotiate with China to extend the panda family’s stay.

Thailand ‘borrowed’ female panda Lin Hui and her male companion Chuang Chuang from China six years ago as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries. Under the ten-year arrangement, Thailand must return the popular pandas to China in 2013, any panda cub born in the kingdom must be returned to China within two years.

Mr. Suwit said the agreement allows Thailand to ask for extension of the loan period.

The Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King will draft a plan to establish a research and development centre for panda breeding, the minister said, adding that the centre will be a cooperative venture between Thailand and China.

The natural resources minister added that the ZPO is inviting the Thai public to name the new-born panda. The four names selected will be awarded Bt100,000 each and return tickets to visit the panda centre in China.

“The public are invited to vote for the best name among the last four selected names by sending postal cards to the ZPO to contest for one million baht of cash prizes and a car. The winner will be announced in August,’ said Mr. Suwit. (TNA)