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.