At the invitation of UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing on the afternoon of September 21 by special plane to attend a UN high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Wen's entourage included Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Minister of Health Chen Zhu, Director of the Research Office of the State Council Xie Fuzhan, Vice Secretary-General of the State Council & Director of the Premier's Office Qiu Xiaoxiong, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.