China's panda pair unveiled to S.Korean public after adjustment period

YONGIN, April 21, 2016 -- Chinese giant panda "Le Bao" eats bamboo at the Panda World of Everland Resort in the city of Yongin, South Korea, on April 21, 2016. The Panda World of Everland Resort opened to the public on Thursday with giant panda "Ai Bao" and "Le Bao" from China. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, April 21 -- A pair of Chinese giant pandas, which arrived in South Korea in early March, were unveiled on Thursday to the South Korean public after about 50 days of adjustment period.

The three-year-old male Le Bao and the two-year-old female Ai Bao, whose names mean pleasant and lovely treasures, began to be made public at the 3,300-square-meter Panda World in Everland, South Korea's largest theme park located around 40 km from capital Seoul.

Attending the opening ceremony were about 400 journalists and officials from both countries, including Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong, South Korean culture and tour minister Kim Jong-Deok and Gyeonggi province governor Nam Kyung-pil.

Minister Kim appreciated to the Chinese government for sending the valuable panda pair, which is expected to serve as goodwill ambassador for improved relations between the two countries.

The Everland expected the lovely pandas to help increase visitors to the theme park, appointing them as honorary employees.

The panda pair arrived in South Korea on March 3 on a 15-year lease.

Joint research will be conducted by Everland and China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Everland installed thermostatic and humidity equipment and planted familiar trees in Panda World to simulate the environment in Sichuan.

CCRCGP, which heads China's international panda research and cooperation program, has sent 32 pandas to 12 zoos and parks in 10 countries and regions since the 1990s.