KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China will conduct a new round of joint research on panda protection to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Leaders from both countries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, expressed their expectations for progress in this field.
Fu Wa and Feng Yi, the two giant pandas at Zoo Negara, were loaned from China to Malaysia on May 21, 2014, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China relations.
The lease was originally set to end last month.
China's panda lease model, which began in the 1980s, also typically triggers joint research projects on panda conservation, fostering scientific collaboration alongside diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, both Anwar and Li commended the results of a series of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between both countries.
"Taking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, the two sides agree to carry out programmes in the fields of culture, tourism, religion, youth and locality, promote interactions at all levels in all areas, and further deepen exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Islamic civilizations."
