MOHD RASFAN AFP KUALA LUMPUR - The third locally bred giant panda cub born in Malaysia in May last year is officially named Sheng Yi, which means peaceful and friendship. According to a press release by the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources of Malaysia, the name indicates the desire of the Malaysian government to strengthen its diplomatic ties with China.
The Malaysia government hopes that Sheng Yi can improve the established relationship between Malaysia and China, according to Takiyuddin who witnessed the naming ceremony with Ouyang Yujing, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre of Zoo Negara.
Sheng Yi made a grand appearance to the public with her mother Liang Liang for the naming ceremony and enjoyed a sumptuous fresh bamboo feast.
The lovable tree-climber has shown great interest in the banner with her name on it.
She was born on May 31, 2021, as the third cub to mother Liang Liang and father Xing Xing, in conjunction with the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.
The giant panda cub, currently weighing around 27 kg and in healthy physical condition, started to meet the public in December 2021.
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Sheng Yi, a female panda, plays with her official name inside the panda enclosure at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2022. MOHD RASFAN AFP Xing Xing and Liang Liang, who arrived in Malaysia in 2014, delivered their first Malaysia-born giant panda cub Nuan Nuan on Aug 18, 2015, while their second, Yi Yi was born on January 14, 2018, according to MOHD RASFAN AFP. Nuan Nuan turned two years old in November 2017 in China.