Young giant panda Lin Ping will remain in Thailand temporarily after visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to delay her return to China.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi presents a picture depicting two pandas to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House yesterday. GOVERNMENT HOUSE PHOTO
Prime Minister Yingluck made the request to extend the panda's stay at Chiang Mai Zoo during a meeting with Mr Wang yesterday, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said.
Lin Ping, the first giant panda to be born in Thailand, was born to Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, two pandas which China loaned to the zoo on a 10-year contract in 2003.
The loan contract stipulates that any offspring born to the pandas belong to China.
Lin Ping was due to be sent to China after her fourth birthday on May 27.
But Mr Wang said Ms Yingluck had expressed deep concerns about the panda being returned to China.
While he granted a temporary extension of Lin Ping's stay, he stressed the panda would still have to be shipped to China eventually in accordance with the contract.
"When the time is right, the panda will have to go home to find its partner in China," Mr Wang said.
"It's like when it's time for humans to talk about trying to find their life partner and getting married.
"For the sake of the Thai people's love for Lin Ping, China agrees to allow her to stay here for a while longer."
Formal discussions would be held to finalise the extension of stay, he added.