First ladies name giant panda cub

by Lydia Wheeler - 09/25/15 11:51 AM ET

The National Zoo’s giant panda cub born on Aug. 22 now has a name: Bei Bei.

First lady Michelle Obama and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan unveiled the name on scrolls in both English and Chinese at the zoo on Friday.

{mosads}Peng is accompanying her husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on their first state visit to Washington this week.

The first ladies were visiting the panda house to commemorate over four decades of scientific collaboration between the U.S. and China on giant panda conservation.

Bei Bei is the surviving cub of the zoo’s female giant panda, Mei Xiang, which gave birth to twin cubs last month. On Twitter, the National Zoo and Smithsonian said the name means “precious, treasure” in Mandarin Chinese.

We’re honored @FLOTUS & Mme. Peng Liyuan named our panda cub. Meet Bei Bei, meaning precious, treasure #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/icNxm8IddX

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) September 25, 2015