A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said Wednesday that the mainland hopes relevant departments in Taiwan would show active response on the issue of giant pandas as a gift from the mainland to compatriots in Taiwan.

The spokesman, Li Weiyi, said at a regular news briefing that the mainland's good will of presenting a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots, which was released on May 3, was greatly welcomed by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The State Forestry Administration announced on June 1 that the panda pair will be chosen from the Wolong natural reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Some leading zoologists from Taiwan were invited here to discuss Monday technical issues of breeding pandas on a tropical island as Taiwan.

Li said the panda selection is now under way and relevant departments will solicit names for the pair of pandas.

The mainland side has done a great deal for presenting the gift, but its realization would need coordination of relevant departments on both sides of the strait, he said.

"We hope relevant departments in Taiwan will have an active response, so that our Taiwan compatriots would see the lovely pair of pandas as soon as possible," Li said.

Source: Xinhua