Over 180 students from China's quake-hit Sichuan province joined Sunday evening's opening ceremony for a summer camp in Tuapse, a city on Russia's Black Seacoast.

  Chinese students from the quake-hit Sichuan Province play by the beach at a children's center in the Black Sea coastal city of Tuapse, Russia, July 20, 2008. A group of 184 students from China's earthquake-hit province of Sichuan arrived in West Russia's Krasnodar region on Saturday for a three-week rehabilitation visit to Russia. (Xinhua Photo)

The students, together with 19 Chinese teachers, doctors and interpreters, arrived Saturday at a city children's center, the venue of the opening ceremony.

During the ceremony, over 1000 Russian children flooded into a square and lined up around it.

Next, Chinese students waving colorful flags symbolizing Sino-Russian friendship walked into the square and were warmly welcomed by the Russian children.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang said the event marked the unprecedented event of quake-affected Chinese students being rehabilitated in Russia.

He expressed belief that the students would have a happy, unforgettable and meaningful holiday in Russia.

The 21-day summer camp will be attended by some 3,000 children in all.

The Chinese students traveled to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

During his visit to China in May, Medvedev offered to host children from the Sichuan and Gansu provinces, where a devastating quake on May 12 killed over 69,000 people.

Under the plan, a total of 1,570 Chinese children will visit Russia during 2008 and 2009.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2008)