Chinese Premier Leaves for Four-Country TourAt the invitation of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of the Republic of Ireland, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the Kingdom of Belgium, Prime Minister M. M. Kasyanov of the Government of Russian Federation and Prime Minister Kasymzhomart K. Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji left Beijing Sunday morning for an official visit to Ireland, Belgium, Russia and Kazakhstan.Vice-premier Qian Qichen, State Councilor Wang Zhongyu and other Chinese officials saw the premier off at the Great Hall of the People, as well as diplomatic envoys of the above mentioned countries and the European Union. During the two-week tour till September 15, Zhu will also attend, respectively, the fourth Sino-European Union Summit meeting in Belgium, the sixth regular meeting between the prime ministers of China and Russia in Russia and the first Prime Ministers' Meeting of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kazakhstan. Among the premier's delegation are his wife Lao An, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister in charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission Li Rongrong, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng. |
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