Chinese premier to tour Latin America

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to attend the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio De Janeiro, and pay official visits to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile from June 20 to 26, it was announced on Saturday.

During the conference, Wen will deliver a speech to elaborate on China's policies in sustainable development, and call on the international community to enhance cooperation. And he will meet with leaders attending the conference to exchange views, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said.

While on the Latin America tour, Wen will meet with leaders of the four nations to exchange views on bilateral ties as well as regional and international affairs of common concern.

He will also deliver a speech in Chile at the headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Liu said Wen's visits will further deepen relations between China and the four countries, and reinforce partnerships between China and Latin America.

Wen was invited to make the visits by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.