On the noon of May 21, local time, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Sendai, Japan by special plane. Shortly after his arrival, Wen headed for nearby Natori city and Fukushima Prefecture, both hit hard by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, to convey sympathies.

During his stay in Japan, Wen is scheduled to participate in the fourth trilateral summit of China, Japan and South Korea in Tokyo on May 22. He will also hold bilateral meetings respectively with Japanese Primer Minister Naoto Kan and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. He will deliver a speech at the luncheon of the China-Japan-South Korea Business Summit, and meet with staff of the Chinese embassy in Japan and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions, Chinese students and overseas Chinese.

Senior officials from the Japanese government, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua and other officials greeted Wen at the airport.