Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing Monday afternoon for the China-ASEAN leaders' special meeting on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to be held in Bangkok.

Wen is going to Bangkok at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Among Wen's entourage are Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Wei Liqun, director of the Research Office of the State Council; Xu Shaoshi, deputy secretary-general of the State Council; Wang Yi, vice minister of Foreign Affairs; and Wang Longde, vice minister of Health.

Also accompanying Wen to the meeting are two of China's leading medical scientists: Zhong Nanshan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of the Guangzhou Institute for Respiratory Diseases; and Li Liming, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)