A senior Chinese diplomat said Wednesday in Beijing that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Laos is "a significant diplomatic move for China to maintain its friendly relations with neighboring countries."

"This will be the first visit to Laos by Wen as Chinese Premier," said Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei at a press conference here Wednesday.

From Nov. 28 to 30, Wen will pay an official visit to Laos and also attend the Eighth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit, the China-ASEAN Summit and the Sixth China, Japan and the ROK Summit. All three will be held in Vientiane, capital of Laos.

According to Wu, Wen and leaders of Laos will review and summarize the friendly relations between the two countries and exchange views on promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields and enhancing economic cooperation and trade.

Wen will hold talks with his Laotian counterpart Boungnang Vorachit, and meet with Laotian President Khamtay Siphandoneand and President of the Laotian National Assembly Samane Vignaket, Wu said.

The two sides will also sign a series of agreements on economic, technological cooperation and trade.

The theme for the Eighth Summit between the ASEAN and China is to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two sides, and China will evaluate progress made in developing bilateral cooperation in the past year and raise some concrete suggestions for furthering such cooperation including cooperation in energy and youth exchanges, Wu said.

He said that the summit will issue an action plan to implement the joint declaration for strategic partnership between China and the ASEAN that are facing towards peace and prosperity, and to promote all-round cooperation between the two sides in the next five years.

The two sides will also sign some important documents, including a trade agreement on goods and an agreement on the settlement of the relevant disputes as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in communications, Wu said.

Wen will also deliver an important speech at the summit between the ASEAN and China, Japan and the ROK, Wu said. The summit will focus on their future cooperation and all sides agree that the establishment of the east Asian community is a long-term goal for their collaboration, he added.

"China supports discussions on issues related to the establishment of the east Asian community, and supports the leading role the ASEAN is playing to this end, Wu said.

Besides, leaders of China, Japan and the ROK will exchange views on their cooperation, cooperation between east Asian countries and international and regional situation during their meeting.