Vice Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing Tuesday for a visit to Britain and Switzerland at the invitation of the British and Swiss governments.
Wen is also to attend the World Summit of Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalized World, a special session of the U.N. General Assembly to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 26 to 30.
Wen's entourage includes Vice Minister in charge of State Development Planning Commission Hao Jianxiu, Deputy Secretary- General of the State Council Ma Kai, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhang Xiang.
Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Shi Xiushi, diplomatic envoys from Britain and Switzerland as well as representatives of the United Nations Development Program saw Wen and his party off at the airport.