Giant panda Ying Ying has given birth to twins, the first pair this year, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) announced on Tuesday.

Although the delivery on Sunday at Sichuan's Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre took 13 hours, both mother and offspring were dong well, said Cao Qingyao, a SFA spokesman.

"This marks the beginning of the year's breeding season for China's captive giant pandas," he added.

A total of 74 cubs have been born at the centre, of which 61 survived.

Last month, the centre was chosen to contribute two pandas to Taiwan.

(China Daily July 6, 2005)