Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will pay an official visit to the United States, Canada, Mexico and Ethiopia from Dec. 7 to 16.  

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the announcement in Beijing Sunday.

Wen is to pay the visit at the invitation of US President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the Mexican government and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the spokesman said.

Wen will also attend the opening ceremony of the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, due to be held in Ethiopia, Liu said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2003)