KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The baby panda born seven months ago in Malaysia's Zoo Negara has been given the name "Nuan Nuan".

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the name was picked out of a pool of nearly 23,000 suggestions from the Malaysian public.

He said the name best exemplified the diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and China.

"Nuan Nuan means friendliness. This reflects our relationship with China.

"Interestingly, Nuan Nuan is used by certain tribes in Sarawak to mean 'you'. In Iban," he said at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre on Thursday (April 7).

Nuan Nuan was born to Liang Liang and Xing Xing who are on loan to Malaysia from China.