China to lease giant panda couple to Spain

China plans to send a giant panda couple on lease to a zoo in Spain in an apparent bid to stabilize relations with European nations.

Both male and female giant pandas born in 2020 have been kept at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province. The two are expected to leave Chengdu for a zoo in Spain's capital, Madrid, on Monday. Another giant panda couple is set to be leased to a zoo in the US city of San Francisco next year.