Japanese-born panda delivers cub in China

CHENGDU, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Meihin, a Japanese-born panda, delivered her first cub Monday at Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in southwest China, it was announced Tuesday.

The female cub weighs 135 grams and is healthy, according to the center.

Meihin was born in Wakayama, Japan, in 2008 and returned to China with her twin brother, Eihin, in 2013.

Their mother, Rauhin, who was born in 2000 in Wakayama, was the first Japanese-born panda to have a cub.

China has collaborative panda breeding programs with Japan, the United States and European countries. The programs intend to increase global understanding of the endangered species.

Cubs born to pandas that are "on loan" from China must be returned to China after they reach sexual maturity or when the cooperative agreement ends.