Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Canberra Sunday by special plane to continue his official visit to Australia, the first leg of his four-nation Asian-Pacific tour.

Upon his arrival at the Canberra International Airport, Wen received a warm red-carpet welcome and a 19-gun salute.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Senate President Paul Calvert, House of Representatives Speaker David Hawke and other senior Australian government officials received the Chinese leader at the airport.

Also present at the welcoming ceremony were staff members from the Chinese Embassy in Australia and representatives from overseas Chinese and Chinese students studying in Australia.

Premier Wen flew here from Perth, the capital of the State of West Australia, where he attended a briefing on Australia's abundant natural resources and paid visits to the famous HIsmelt Corporation Pty Ltd. and a hydrocarbon research center in the Curtin University of Technology.

Despite a busy schedule, the Chinese leader had a dialogue meeting with some Chinese and Australian students during his visit to the university.

Wen also met Alan Carpenter, premier of the State of West Australia, before leaving Perth for Canberra.

During his stay in Canberra, Wen is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Howard and meet Governor-General Michael Jeffery and other Australian officials.

It is understood that the two sides will sign a series of inter- governmental agreements as well as documents on commercial cooperation.

Wen arrived in Perth on Saturday to kick off his official visit to Australia.

The Chinese premier will also pay official visits to Fiji, New Zealand and Cambodia and attend the first China-Pacific Island Economic and Development Cooperation Forum slated to be held in Fiji on April 5-6.

Source: Xinhua