The 1st group of Sichuan children to arrive in Russia

MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) - The first group of children from China's quake-stricken Sichuan province will arrive in Russia on Thursday, a source at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science told Itar-Tass.

"The Chinese children will be accommodated at fifteen best
health-improvement centres in Russia - in the Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk,
Kemerovo, Omsk and the Primorye regions, in Tuapse - a resort on the
Russian Black sea coast and the children's centre "Okean" near
Vladivostok. The Chinese children will undergo special treatment and enjoy
a special cultural program, including games, contests, excursions,
creative classes, sport events, walks, discotheques and Russian language
lessons. Some changes will be introduced to the menu with account taken of
the specifics of the Chinese cuisine," the source said.

A total of 1,000 children from China will be airlifted to Russia. Some
of them were wounded in the devastating quake, others lost their parents.
Another 570 children from Sichuan will be able to go on vacation to Russia
next summer.