AFTER almost a year of being born, the third cub of giant panda couple Xing Xing and Liang Liang from China has been finally given a name – Sheng Yi – which means peace and friendship.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the female cub, which was born on May 31 last year weighing around 140g, is in good health and now weighs more than 27kg.

“The Malaysian government hopes that Sheng Yi will be able to further boost the friendship between Malaysia and China,” he said in a statement after attending the naming ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

The ceremony, held at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre of Zoo Negara, was also attended by Deputy Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ali Biju, China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing and Malaysian Zoological Society president Zaharin Md Arif.

Sheng Yi has been on public display since December last year.

The panda couple’s first baby named Nuan Nuan was born on August 18, 2015 and sent home (back to China) on November 14, 2017 while the second, named Yi Yi, on January 14, 2018.

Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly @ Rahmat Amat Lana last month said the zoo is still waiting for the green light from the government regarding Yi Yi’s repatriation back to China.

The giant panda pair, which became a symbol of 40 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, arrived in the country on May 21, 2014 and will be here for a period of 10 years under the Giant Panda International Conservation Cooperation Agreement Programme.

Former energy and natural resources minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, in a report on December 2, 2020, had said every cub born to the giant panda couple must be sent back to China at a minimum age of 24 months and not beyond four years. – Bernama, May 25, 2022.