China offers Spain two pandas

As a gesture of goodwill, China has offered Spain two pandas during the visit of King Juan Carlos, the foreign ministry announced on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that China hoped the Spanish people will love the pandas, and that these ambassadors of goodwill will increase the friendly relations between the two countries and people.

China traditionally gives the panda, its national animal, to other nations as a goodwill gesture.

Officials from the Spanish embassy in Beijing pointed out though, that the pandas were not a gift, but were being loaned in an arrangement financed by a private Spanish company that runs the Madrid zoo.

Queen Sofia visited China's panda breeding center in Sichuan province today, on the final day of their visit.