Russian Ambassador to China Razov Sergey said on Tuesday that his country, as a strategic partner and friendly neighbor of China, felt great pain for China's suffering following last week's devastating earthquake that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

Razov told reporters that Russia would offer continued aid to the quake-stricken areas.

Razov made the remarks during a press conference held by China's Foreign Ministry ahead of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's upcoming visit, scheduled for May 23-24.

"All the Russian people, from state leaders to ordinary citizens, felt great pain over the suffering that the quake had brought to the Chinese people and would continue to support China with humanitarian aid as well as various supplies," the ambassador said.

Medvedev sent a letter of condolence on the day of the quake to the Chinese president Hu Jintao, which was followed by four shipments of humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the disaster region.

The aid included tents and blankets, and a Russian rescue team saved a survivor in Dujiangyan, a city near Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan.

According to Razov, Russia will provide China with mobile hospital facilities for post-quake medical services. These were delivered to Chengdu on Tuesday. Also, 40 Russian medical experts headed for quake disaster areas to help with the rescue.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)