YOUNG PIONEERS: Quake kids attend the opening ceremony of a summer camp in Tuapse on the northeast shore of the Black Sea with their Russian instructor on July 20

More than 1,500 young Chinese earthquake victims will spend a rest and recuperation period in Russia at the invitation of the Russian Government.

The children, aged from seven to 16, are from the earthquake-stricken provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. The first two groups of 1,020 children left for Russia on July 17 and July 24, respectively. Another 550 are expected to make the trip next year.

"This is part of Russia's assistance to China after the Wenchuan earthquake," said Igor Morgulov, Minister Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Beijing at a press conference. "The Russian Government will cover all the costs of the children while they are in Russia. The Russians will treat our Chinese guests with our greatest hospitality."

The Chinese children will stay in 15 children's rehabilitation centers in 12 regions of Russia, mostly in the east of the country. "These regions are close to China, so the children won't have to take a long flight," said Morgulov.

During their three-week-long stay in Russia, the children will receive rehabilitation treatments including psychological consultations. They will also attend various cultural programs and visit local places of interest.

TOO CUTE: Russian children who survived the Beslan school hostage crisis hug a giant panda in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, on May 27, 2006, during their convalescent stay in China

Chinese teachers, doctors and interpreters make up part of the tour group. The doctors will bring some traditional Chinese medicine with them so that they can continue to treat the children while in Russia. "Russian chefs may not be able to cook genuine Sichuan dishes," said Morgulov. "But we will try to make sure the children have delicious food in Russia."

It is the first time for Russia to invite such a large number of foreign children to take recuperative vacations in the country since the founding of the Russian Federation in 1991, he said.

The program was proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his first state visit to China only two weeks after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake.

Russia originally planned to invite hundreds of Chinese children, but the number was greatly increased as different Russian regions vied to host Chinese children, Morgulov said.