BEIJING, Dec. 10 - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has postponed an official visit to the Philippines which was originally scheduled for Dec. 13-14, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced here Sunday.

 

As the Dec. 11-13 summit for east Asian leaders has been postponed to next January due to a strong typhoon, the Chinese and Philippine sides have decided through negotiations to put off Wen's visit, said Qin.

 

The organizing committee of the 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced last Friday that the date of the summit, originally slated for Dec. 10-14, was postponed because of "a possible major weather disturbance."

 

Typhoon Utor ripped through the island country causing widespread devastation.

 

According to an ASEAN official announcement Sunday morning, the summit has been moved to Jan. 8-13 next year.