The panda pair given by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan made their debut at the Taipei Zoo Saturday evening, meeting a select group of visitors including Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou and Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan.

"It's an honor for Taiwan to breed the two pandas, as there are only about 1,600 pandas in the world," said Ma.

About 500 orphans and children from poor families were invited by the city government to be the first visitors to the panda pair.

"It's a time for family reunions at Spring Festival, but some children have lost their families and others cannot afford to go to the zoo. That's why we invited them, and we wish them a happy new year," said the Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin.

The two pandas, named "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan"(when linked, their names mean "reunion" in Chinese), have completed a month-long quarantine period and are scheduled to meet the Taiwan public on January 26, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2009)