The chairman of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits says he hopes the two giant pandas to be sent to Taiwan will leave for the island soon.

Chen Yunlin visited a giant panda breeding base in Ya'an in Sichuan Province on Tuesday. The two pandas, called Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, were transferred to the base a month after the devastating May 12th earthquake. Experts say the pandas have recovered from the shock of the quake.

The Chinese mainland announced in May 2005 it would send two giant pandas to Taiwan as a token of cross-Straits friendship. But their departure was delayed for more than three years.The two pandas have just turned 4. And experts say it's better for the pandas to be sent to Taiwan before they reach the age of 5 so they can better adapt to the environment in Taiwan.

The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office says preparations for the pandas' trip are going well. The main aspects of the preparations are the exit and entry procedures for the pandas, quarantine measures, accommodation for mainland experts in Taiwan as well as training for zoo keepers there.

(CCTV September 11, 2008)