Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing by special plane on the morning of October 2 for official visits to four European nations, the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the 13th China-European Union (EU) summit. Wen will visit Greece, Belgium, Italy and Turkey from Oct. 2 to 9, at the invitation of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During his stay in Brussels, Belgium, Wen will also attend the 8th ASEM and 13th China-EU summit from Oct. 4 to 6, as guest of European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The premier's entourage includes Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Minister of Culture Cai Wu, Governor of the People's Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan, 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 Ministers Fu Ying and Zhai Jun.