Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing Sunday afternoon for an official visit to the United States, Canada, Mexico and Ethiopia.

Wen will also attend the opening ceremony of the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai are among the entourage.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2003)