Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Singapore on Sunday
afternoon for an official visit, at the invitation of his
Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.
This is the first visit by a Chinese premier to Singapore in
eight years.
During his visit, Wen will deliver an important speech on
China's reform and opening-up policy at the National University of
Singapore.
He will also hold talks with Lee Hsien Loong on bilateral
cooperation and regional and international issues of common
concern, and meet with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan, Senior
Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
After the visit, Wen will attend the 11th ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic
of Korea) Summit, the 11th China-ASEAN Summit, the third East Asia
Summit, and the eighth annual meeting of leaders of China, Japan
and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Wen is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese
counterpart, Fukuda Yasuo, on the sidelines of the series of
meetings.
It will be his first meeting with Fukuda since the Japanese
prime minister took office in September of this year.
The ASEAN plus Three Summit will review the 10 years of
cooperation between the ASEAN and China, Japan and the ROK, as well
as issuing a joint statement on East Asian cooperation, the second
of its kind, and a working plan on the ASEAN plus Three
cooperation, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, who
is accompanying Wen during the visit.
Wen will reiterate China's position to support the integration
process of the ASEAN and support the ASEAN in playing a leading
role in regional cooperation, as well as putting forward some new
proposals on the ASEAN plus Three cooperation, He said.
At the East Asia Summit, Wen will elaborate on China's position
on climate change and the measures it has taken and further steps
it will take to face climate change, he added.
At the meeting of Chinese, Japanese and ROK leaders, the three
sides are expected to make concrete proposals on strengthening
practical cooperation, particularly in the fields of environmental
protection, science and technology, culture and youth exchange.
The leaders of the three countries may also touch on the Korean
Peninsula nuclear issue during their discussions of regional and
international issues.
This is the fifth time for Premier Wen to attend the ASEAN
series of meetings, and is also an important visit by a major
Chinese state leader since the 17th National Congress of the
Communist Party of China, held in mid October.
Among Wen's entourage include Minister of Finance Xie Xuren,
Minister of Construction Wang Guangtao, and Wei Liqun, director of
the Research Office of the State Council, as well as other senior
officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the
Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2007)
