Central government to confer two pandas to Macao

In this file photo taken on Feb. 4, 2011, female panda Xin Xin feeds on bamboo leaves in south China's Macao. It died of acute renal failure and related ailments on June 22, 2014. Xin Xin, along with Kai Kai, a male panda, were presented by the Chinese central government to Macao as a gift for the 10th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in 2009. The Chinese central government will confer another pair of giant pandas to Macao, President Xi Jinping said here Friday, during his meeting with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao SAR. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

The Chinese central government will confer a pair of giant pandas to Macao, President Xi Jinping said here Friday.

Xi made the announcement during his meeting with Chui Sai On, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).[Special coverage]

"I wish they will grow up healthily and bring happiness to Macao people," Xi told Chui.

He said the central government made the decision at the request of Chui.

Five years ago the central government gave Macao a pair of pandas as a gift for the 10th anniversary of the Macao SAR. Kai Kai, the male panda, and Xin Xin, female, came from their birthplace in Sichuan Province, southwest China, on Dec. 18, 2010, and soon captured the hearts of the local people.

But Xin Xin's sudden death due to acute renal failure and related ailments on June 22 this year shocked and saddened the Macao people.