Malaysia-China friendship in focus as second panda cub born in country is named Yi Yi

Born last January after being conceived in mid-October 2017, Yi Yi is the offspring of giant pandas Xing Xing and Liang Liang

Her parents were sent to Malaysia by China in May 2014 to mark 40 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries

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Yi Yi, born 19 months ago to parents Liang Liang and Xing Xing on loan from China, eats during her naming ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:09pm, 1 Aug 2019Updated: 7:54pm, 1 Aug 2019

A name has finally been given to the second giant panda cub born in Malaysia, 19 months after her birth.

Yi Yi, meaning friendship, was chosen to emphasise the country’s close ties with China as the two mark 45 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar said Yi Yi’s birth was “momentous” as mother panda Liang Liang had conceived her outside the usual mating season.

“[Yi Yi] is active, bonds well with her mother and is in good health. Though the cub still feeds on milk, it has also been exposed to other diets such as bamboo leaves and carrots,” he said.

Born last January after being conceived in mid-October 2017, Yi Yi is the second offspring of giant pandas Xing Xing and Liang Liang, who were sent to Malaysia by China in May 2014 to mark 40 years of diplomatic ties.

Yi Yi (left) plays with her mother Liang Liang during her naming ceremony at Malaysia’s National Zoo. Photo: Reuters

Their first cub, Yi Yi’s sister Nuan Nuan, was born in August 2015 and sent back to China in late 2017 as part of an agreement that cubs born in captivity must be returned at 24 months old.

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, who was also present at the naming ceremony, described the pandas as “friendship emissaries”, adding that Xing Xing and Liang Liang were now the “most productive giant pandas overseas”.