3 Apr 2006

Chinese premier due in Fiji

4:37 pm on 3 April 2006

The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is arriving in Fiji tomorrow for bilateral talks.

The Premier will meet Fiji leaders before addressing the China Summit meeting with leaders from some Pacific Forum countries on Wednesday.

Countries with diplomatic links with Taiwan will boycott the gathering

About 500 delegates are expected to attend the summit at the Sheraton resort in Nadi - 250 of them from China.

Fiji's chief of protocol, Akila Waradi, says the Chinese premier will have a busy schedule during his 24-hour stay.

"The programme that has been prepared for him is that he arrives tomorrow afternoon, he meets with our president and our prime minister and there will be an official dinner hosted for him. The following morning he meets with some of the prime ministers who will be attending the ministerial forum the following day and that will continue into the afternoon when he leaves again."

Mr Waradi says Premier Wen Jiabao will leave Fiji for a visit to New Zealand.