Preparations for choosing two giant pandas as gifts of the Chinese mainland to Taiwan are underway in the world-known giant panda research center in southwestern Sichuan Province, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

"We will select a giant panda couple aged between one and a half years to four years that are artificially bred in the center and with sound fertility," said spokesman Cao Qingyao of the State Forestry Administration.

Once the giant pandas are selected, "we will solicit names for them, their infant names from the mainland people and their formal names from the Taiwan people," Cao told a press conference held by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

On the mainland side, the China Wildlife Conservation Association will be responsible for talks with related authorities in Taiwan.

"We hope the two sides will start talks as soon as possible," he said.

The mainland welcomes Taiwan technicians to come to learn giant panda breeding and reproduction technologies and could also send experts to Taiwan for technical service if it is necessary, he added.

The spokesman also expressed the belief that with the climate in Taiwan similar to that in the southern mainland, there are enough bamboo to meet the needs of the giant pandas.

"Under the good care of the Taiwanese compatriots, the giant pandas will surely grow well and have their descendants," Cao said.

Mainland to set up business zones for Taiwan farmers

He Ziyang, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture, said at the press conference that the mainland will establish special business zones for Taiwan farmers, offering them conveniences when they start their business on the mainland.

He said that the zones will be established in Heilongjiang, Shandong, Sichuan and Fujian provinces.

"Taiwan farmers will enjoy a more flexible investment environment and a sound platform to start their business in the zones," said He.

The establishment of the zones is part of a series of measures to increase cross-Strait agricultural cooperation. Other measures include opening the market to 18 Taiwan's tropical fruits and expanding a joint venture experimental zone.

"We sincerely hope through our efforts, we could help solve the sales difficulty of Taiwan fruits and provide substantive assistance to Taiwan farmers," Tang Yi, deputy director of the economic bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office, said at the press conference.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2005)