BEIJING - PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives here on Wednesday for an official five-day visit that will see Singapore become the first Asian country to ink a free trade agreement with China.

He will also meet the top three ranking leaders of China and attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), a biennial summit of leaders which has taken on greater significance this year because of the global financial crisis.

The summit is expected to discuss the financial meltdown with the 10 Asean leaders holding a crisis meeting on the sidelines.

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