BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The China Wildlife Conservation Association on Friday signed a letter of intent on cooperation with the United States' San Francisco Zoological Society and Gardens at a ceremony held in Beijing, aiming to boost the conservation of giant pandas.

       The two sides agreed to initiate technical consultations on the international conservation of giant pandas, and to promote research and technical exchanges related to giant panda conservation cooperation between the two countries.

       They will actively prepare for and promote the formal signature of the cooperation agreement as soon as possible, and work to deliver a pair of giant pandas to San Francisco in 2025.

       The United States was one of the first countries to cooperate with China on giant panda conservation. Since the 1990s, the two countries have carried out joint research in such areas as the conservation, breeding, disease treatment and feeding of giant pandas, as well as in the field of epidemic control for the species. Their cooperation has seen the successful breeding of 17 giant panda cubs.