Giant panda "Reganmian" is pictured at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, Sept 21, 2022. (CHEN JUWEI / XINHUA)

CHENGDU - Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East.

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The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment.

Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center.

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Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team.

In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries.