Premier Wen Jiabao has left Beijing for an official visit to Europe set to focus on expanding trade and strategic partnerships. The visit will last 10 days.

The premier will visit Germany, Belgium, Italy, Britain, Ireland and the headquarters of the European Union.

The 10-day visit will be the premier's first to Europe since he took office last year.

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.

Visit Crucial for Sino-Europe Relationship

EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten said that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's European visit will be crucial and will help further promote Sino-European relations.

He stressed that in the past five years, China and Europe have cooperated successfully in many fields like economy, culture, education, as well as science and technology.

Mutual understanding has been heightened and all-around partnership has been better established.

Chris Patten hoped the visit will set strong foundations for the upcoming China-EU Summit at the end of this year.