France's first lady to play special role in panda cub's life

One of the twin cubs delivered by Huan Huan is put into an incubator. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France, is set to become godmother to the baby panda born on Friday night at the Beauval Zoo.

"The information was officially confirmed by the Elysée," a zoo spokesperson told China Daily in an email. "Brigitte Macron, first lady of France, will be the godmother of our baby panda. Beauval is very honored."

China will name the baby panda, who survived after the 9-year old Huan Huan gave birth to twin babies on Friday night.

The zoo said that Brigitte Macron spoke at length on the phone with Rodolphe Delord, the director of the zoo, to congratulate him and his team.

According to the zoo, the first lady had already seen the breeding pair Huan Huan and Yuan Zi several times with her family. She will visit the panda cub at a date yet to be determined.