Chinese Premier Li Keqiang left Beijing on Monday morning for meetings with European Union leaders in Brussels, marking his first overseas trip this year. 

Li will hold the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. 

A series of agreements are also expected to be signed during Li's Belgian trip.

Following Brussels, Li will pay an official visit to Croatia and attend the 8th Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

Li's entourage includes his wife Cheng Hong, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and He Lifeng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the National Development and Reform Commission. 

(Head image file photo)

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)

Read more: 

Premier Li's visit to bring China and Europe closer