The news was announced by visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng during his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thursday.

Li said the Chinese government made this decision in honor of the revered Thai royal couple, on the occasion that the king of Thailand will turn 75 years old by the year-end and the queen just celebrated her 70th birthday last month.

Thaksin said he was excited over the news and expressed sincere thanks to China on behalf of the whole Thai nation.

Thailand has been requesting China to send a pair of pandas to the kingdom for a long time since China's giant panda made its debut in the kingdom six years ago, which charmed the whole Thai nation.

On the occasion of celebrating two important royal birthdays this year, the Thai government has formed a special committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to prepare for the arrival of the Chinese panda pair.

Meanwhile, Thai media reported that the government has started a project in northern Thai city of Chiang Mai to build an air-conditioned enclosure with sun-roof for the Chinese panda pair and is planning to send two specialists from the Chiang Mai Zoo for training in China's mainland, Hong Kong and the United States to learn how to take care of pandas.

The kingdom will also hold a nationwide contest for selecting Thai names for the panda pair.

( September 6, 2002)