China has sent two giant pandas to Qatar in an apparent attempt to boost friendly relations with the major exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Chinese and Qatari media say a welcome ceremony took place in the Middle Eastern country on Wednesday.

They say the 4-year-old male and 3-year-old female have been given Arabic names -- Suhail and Thuraya, respectively.

The media say the pandas will stay in Qatar for 15 years for research purposes, living in an enclosure that recreates a natural environment for wild giant pandas. They add that there are plans to put them on public display.

This is reportedly the first time China has sent pandas to a Middle Eastern country.

China is apparently nurturing close ties with Qatar to ensure supplies of LNG, an energy resource Beijing is relying on in its fight against climate change.

The panda diplomacy came as Qatar gains global attention as the host of the soccer World Cup, which opens next month.