Two Chinese giant pandas, a male named Le Le and a female named Ya Ya, will leave for the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee in the United States on April 7, 2003.

They will fly with the FedEx Express MD-11 jet, known as "The FedEx Panda Express," during the trans-Pacific journey. They will be housed in two custom-built transport containers during their 15-hour flight.

FedEx Express has made preparations for the air and ground transportation and logistical support to ensure a safe and comfortable flight for the pandas, sources said.

The giant pandas are part of the Sino-US program on animal research and protection. Chinese and American experts will carry out special researches on the pandas during their ten years' stay in the United States, said Xie Zhong, vice secretary-general of China Zoo Association.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2003)