China has loaned two giant pandas to Qatar in the Middle East for the first time, and China, which is deepening its relationship with the procurement of LNG = liquefied natural gas, seems to have the aim of enhancing the friendly mood.
According to Qatar and Chinese media, two giant pandas will be loaned from China to Qatar for 15 years for research purposes, and a welcome ceremony was held locally on the 19th.
The two giant pandas were named Suhail, a 4-year-old male, and Suraya, a 3-year-old female, in Arabic.
A special breeding facility that reproduces the environment in which wild giant pandas live is set up in northern Alhoor, and is scheduled to be open to the public in the future.
This is the first time that pandas have been loaned from China to a Middle Eastern country.
China is expanding its use of natural gas as part of its efforts to combat global warming, and is deepening its relationship with Qatar in procuring LNG.
With the World Cup of soccer kicking off in Qatar next month, and before the world's attention gathers, China seems to have the aim of enhancing the friendly mood with Qatar.