CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Thai officials are making preparations to welcome two giant pandas that China has promised to send later this year to mark the 50th annivers of diplomatic relations between the two governments.
But they will not be an annivers present: Thailand will be paying for the bears. The kingdom is expected to host the pandas under what will effectively be a 10-year lease requiring annual payments of perhaps $500,000 per panda. Additional payments will be due if any cubs are born or any panda dies of neglect.
