Chinese premier leaves for Germany, Russia, Italy visits

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday left Beijing for his Germany, Russia and Italy visits from Oct 9 to Oct 17. [Special coverage]

Invited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Li will pay official visits to the three countries.

During his Germany tour, Li will co-chair the third China-Germany governmental consultation with Merkel. In Russia, he will hold the 19th regular meeting between the two countries' prime ministers with Medvedev.

At the invitation of Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Li will visit the FAO headquarters in Rome.

The premier will also attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Milan at the invitation of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President of the European Commission Jos Manuel Barroso.