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)