"An Il-76 cargo plane of the Emergency Situations Ministry carrying some 30 tons of disaster relief aid, including blankets and tents that is mostly needed, departed from Ramenskoye near Moscow," the Interfax news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

Another transport plane with humanitarian aid is scheduled to leave later on Sunday, the ministry said.

Russia has so far sent nearly 400 tons of emergency aid, as well as rescue and medical teams, to southwestern China's Sichuan Province, which was hit by the 8-magnitude quake on May 12.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised to offer more aid to China during his first visit to Beijing on Friday and Saturday after taking office on May 7.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2008)