A pair of Chinese giant pandas received a red carpet welcome when they arrived at Brussels Airport Sunday.
The male and female pair, Xing Hui and Hao Hao, showed no signs of stress from their journey of more than 12 hours. After being greeted by Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo they were escorted by police to the Pairi Daiza Zoo in the town of Brugellette, 60 kilometres (37 miles) outside Brussels, where they will stay for the next 15 years for a scientific research program.
Tickets to the zoo were entirely sold out on Sunday. Crowds of people holding Belgian and Chinese flags and panda toys cheered the arrival of the pandas.
"We are very honoured and proud that China agreed to lend Belgium two of its national treasures," Di Rupo told reporters.
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