TAIWAN-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-ANIMALS-PANDAS

Two giant pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are seen at the Bifeng Gorge Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Yaan city, southwest China's Sichuan province on December 22, 2008. Two giant pandas will make their long-anticipated and highly-scrutinised trip from China to Taiwan this week, sealing a year of blossoming diplomatic ties between the two arch rivals. AFP PHOTO/Sam YEH