It's heartening to see that Russia has re- aped the initial rewards in its fight against the recent spate of menacing wildfires. China has watched with grave concern the deadly fires that have devastated large areas of western and central Russia.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao last Monday sent messages of condolence to their Russian counterparts Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin over the loss of lives in the fires.

The Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that the country would donate $1 million and deliver humanitarian aid worth 20 million yuan ($2.93 million).

The response from China bears witness to the two countries profound friendship. The bilateral relationship is now in the best shape it has been in recent years and can claim to be the closest and most dynamic among the big powers.

Sino-Russian friendship has taken root in the mutual trust and support. Both heed the other's concerns and core interests and have been co-operating in a wide range of fields, at both international and bilateral levels. So it is natural for one to offer support to the other in times of hardships.

The Chinese government and people will never forget that Russia extended its helping hand, in the form of disaster relief, when China was hit by deadly natural calamities in the past, including the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and this year's Yushu earthquake.

We believe that the Russian government and people

will overcome this exceptional natural disaster and swiftly start rebuilding.