On Sept. 25, Friday, China and the United States first ladies, Peng Liyuan and Michelle Obama respectively, visited the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. and named America's newest panda cub "Bei Bei".

They did this lighthearted task while their husbands were doing their official business at the White House to discuss and resolve issues on cyberspace security as well as on certain territorial disputes in the Asia Pacific.

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Born on Aug. 22, panda cub, Bei Bei, turns five weeks old today, Sept. 26 and now weighs 3lbs (1.3kg). And according to BBC News, the name is pronounced as "Bay Bay" and when combined with his two-year-old sister's name, Bao Bao, means "precious treasure".

The two first ladies stood in front of the panda exhibit, unfurling scrolls to disclose the name, written in both English and Mandarin Chinese: Bei Bei. 

Washington's newest giant panda is named "Bei Bei" by Chinese and U.S. first ladies Friday @FLOTUS pic.twitter.com/iLl87A1VPP

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) September 25, 2015

Zoo director Dennis Kelly explained that the two first ladies selected the name from list of possible names as proposed by the zookeepers at the National Zoo and China's Wolong Nature Reserve. 

"The cub is yet another success in a conservation cooperation between China and the United States on giant pandas," Peng, speaking with a translator, referred to Bei Bei's birth.  "I am delighted to learn that the American public has great affection towards the giant pandas," she added.

And as she observed how a picture of a panda munching on bamboo appears and gets featured on Washington Metro fare cards, she explained with joy, "I truly hope to own some of these fare cards as a souvenir."

.@FLOTUS and China's first lady reveal that the @NationalZoo's baby panda is named "Bei Bei" http://t.co/Wv2etcEgKd pic.twitter.com/OAReacINpv — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 26, 2015

Before the ceremony commenced, third graders from the Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School paid respect to the first ladies by singing two songs in Mandarin Chinese.

"We want young people like you to be global citizens," Mrs. Obama told these lovely pupils. She also mentioned about the previously announced 'One Million Strong' initiative which targets to teach one million students in the U.S. to speak Mandarin Chinese by the year 2020. 

"You're the best ambassadors that we have, not just right now, but for decades to come," first lady Obama said to the children.

TagsBei Bei, panda cub, Smithsonian National Zoo, Peng Liyuan, Michelle Obama