On the morning of June 19, 2012, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing by special plane to attend the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio De Janeiro, and pay official visits to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Wen was invited by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.
Wen's entourage includes Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhang Ping, Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Director of the Research Office of the State Council Xie Fuzhan, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council and Director of the Premier's Office Xiang Zhaolun, Vice Secretary General of the State Council Xiao Yaqing, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng, Vice-Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Du Ying, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the State Council Tian Xuebin and Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.