Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sends a message of condolence to Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao on the numerous human casualties caused by floods and landslides in Gansu province

The message reads, in part:

"We sympathise with those who have lost their nearest and dearest because of the disaster, and we hope that the victims will recover as soon as possible. I am convinced that the situation in the affected areas will stabilise in the near future."