Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing on Saturday afternoon for the city of Cebu of the Philippines to attend a series of meetings and pay an official visit at the invitation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The meetings include the tenth ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) summit, the tenth China-ASEAN summit, and the second east Asian regional summit.

Wen will also chair the seventh annual meeting of leaders of China, Japan and the ROK.

Among Wen's entourage are Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Finance Minister Jin Renqing, Director of Research Office of the State Council Wei Liqun, as well as other senior officials from the State Council, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Wen's visit, initially scheduled for Dec. 11-14, was postponed due to Typhoon Utor, which ripped through the island country causing devastation.

Source: Xinhua