On November 17, 2011, Premier Wen Jiabao left Beijing by special plane to attend a series of meetings for East Asian leaders scheduled in Bali of Indonesia and to pay an official visit to Brunei. Wen is making the trip at the invitations of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, which holds the rotating presidency of the ASEAN and Bruneian Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Wen's entourage includes Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Director of the Research Office of the State Council Xie Fuzhan, Vice Secretary-General of the State Council Wang Xuejun, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN Tong Xiaoling, Vice Secretary-General of the State Council and Director of the Premier's Office Xiang Zhaolun and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.