Putin expresses condolences to Chinese leader amid death toll due to earthquake in Sichuan
SOCHI. April 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed bilateral relations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and has expressed his condolences to him amid the powerful earthquake in China's Sichuan province that took many lives.
"V. Putin has expressed once again his condolences to the Chinese leader amid the devastating earthquake, which claimed many lives. V. Putin and Xi Jinping have also discussed the current issues of bilateral cooperation," press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.
The 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook Sichuan on April 20 at around 8 a.m. local time [4 a.m. Moscow time]. The epicenter of the quake with a focal depth of around 12 kilometers was approximately 100 kilometers from the administrative center of the Chengdu province.
According to the latest data, 164 people died and around 6,700 were injured.