China to give pair of pandas to Spanish king

BEIJING, June 28 (Reuters) China will present visiting Spanish King Juan Carlos with a pair of pandas as a gift to promote mutual friendship, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Beijing has given pandas as ''goodwill'' presents to other countries to help promote international ties.

''It will be a lovely present for the Spanish people, and we hope this pair of pandas, as the friendly envoys of the Chinese people, can help promote mutual relations,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference.

''We also hope the Spanish zoos can take good care of our national treasure.'' The giant panda, found only in China, is one of the world's most endangered species. An estimated 1,000 live in the southwestern province of Sichuan, and in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in the northwest.

Beijing presented a pair of pandas to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong in 1999 and another pair this year. It has also offered pandas several times to Taiwan, the independently governed island which China considers its own. Taipei has turned down all offers so far.

REUTERS SM PM1530