Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will head to Europe for a trip set to focus on expanding trade and strategic partnerships. The 10-day visit will begin on Sunday.

The premier will visit Germany, Italy, Britain, Ireland and Belgium, where he will also meet European Union leaders.

The 10-day visit, which begins on Sunday, will be the premier's first trip to Europe since he took office last year.

He is also expected to press for a European Union arms embargo to be lifted.

China says its relations with the EU are at an all-time high - a claim backed by the EU ambassador to China, Klaus Ebermann.

China overtook Japan in 2003 to become the EU's second largest trading partner, while the EU is China's third largest.

(CRI May 1, 2004)