Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that China and Japan are maintaining close communication on advancing giant panda cooperation.

He made the remarks at a regular media conference after it was reported that during a recent visit to Beijing a delegation from the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union expressed the hope of leasing giant pandas to Japan. All four giant pandas on loan to a western Japanese zoo will return to China around late June.

Giant pandas residing in Japan have always been beloved by the Japanese people and China and Japan over the years have achieved positive cooperation results in the breeding, scientific research, technical exchanges, and public education related to giant pandas, Guo told reporters.

"We welcome Japan to continue to care about international cooperation in giant panda conservation, support China's giant panda conservation efforts, and jointly protect this flagship species," he added.