Japan's PM to ask Beijing for two pandas

BEIJING - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Thursday that he will ask Beijing to lease two pandas to Japan during his visit to China.

Noda, scheduled to visit China on Sunday and Monday, plans to hold separate talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Tokyo hopes Beijing will lease the pandas to the Yagiyama Zoological Park in the city of Sendai, an area heavily stricken by the earthquake and tsunami last March, Japan's Fuji Television said on Thursday.