The Malaysian government in 2014 was presented with two giant pandas, Xing Xing and Liang Liang, by China to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Panda diplomacy has long been  a common Chinese practice. It can be traced as far back as the Tang Dynasty, when the late Empress Wu Zetian presented a pair of giant pandas to the Japanese emperor. 

In 2015, a panda cub named Nuan Nuan was born. Her name means friendliness, which authorities said reflects Malaysia’s relationship to China.

The family of giant pandas, on loan for a decade,  live a life of comfort and care at an enclosure in the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo, as they continue their unique panda diplomatic role.


Photos and text by Joshua Paul.

Nuan Nuan, scratches herself during Liang Liang's 10th birthday celebration at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Malaysian zoo personnel carry a 3-month old female giant panda cub at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

A Malaysian Muslim woman watches Xing Xing, formerly known as Fu Wa, one of the two giant pandas from China, eating bamboo leaves at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

A 6-month old female giant panda cub, an offspring of Xing Xing, formerly known as Fu Wa and Liang Liang, formerly known as Feng Yi, plays with a soft-toy panda at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

A 6-month old female giant panda cub, an offspring of Xing Xing, formerly known as Fu Wa and mother Liang Liang, formerly known as Feng Yi, plays with her mother at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Visitors take souvenir photographs of Xing Xing, formerly known as Fu Wa, one of the two giant pandas from China at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

One year old female giant panda cub Nuan Nuan, plays at the Giant Panda Conservation Center during Liang Liang's 10th birthday celebration at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Liang Liang, left, formerly known as Feng Yi, a female giant panda from China, plays with her one year old female cub Nuan Nuan, at the Giant Panda Conservation Center during her 10th birthday celebration at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Visitors take souvenir photographs of Xing Xing, formerly known as Fu Wa, one of the two giant pandas from China, at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Liang Liang, formerly known as Feng Yi, a female giant panda from China, eats her cake during her 10th birthday celebration, at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Liang Liang, bottom right, formerly known as Feng Yi, a female giant panda from China and her one year old female cub, Nuan Nuan, sleep after eating cake during her 10th birthday celebration at the Giant Panda Conservation Center at the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

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