BEIJING, March 25 (UPI) -- China's foreign ministry announced Thursday that premier Wen Jiabao will make a four nation tour of South Asian countries in early April.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Liu Jianchao said the premier will visit Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. Wen leaves Beijing on April 5.
Liu called the journey a "major diplomatic meeting" aimed at bolstering "trust, friendship and cooperation" with the four nations.
Wen is scheduled to deliver a speech at the opening session of the Fourth Asian Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers' Meeting which will be held in Islamabad on April 6.
In Bangladesh the premier may discuss ways to lessen the huge trade deficit China has with the country as well as concerns about Chinese dam projects that could impact the Ganges.
The Sri Lankan leg of Wen's trip is likely to see him visit areas damaged by the Dec. 2004 tsunami and Chinese relief efforts.
On Mar. 14 Wen said his visit to India would cover three issues: the importance of ties between the two giants of Asia, expanding trade links ($13.6 billion dollars in 2004) and dealing with border disputes that "respected history and accommodated reality."
