Wen Jiabao to bring biggest-ever trade team on visit

Premier Wen Jiabao will be accompanied by the biggest ever Chinese trade delegation of over 300 businessmen when he touches down in New Delhi next Wednesday on a three-day visit, during which the two countries' fast-growing but increasingly imbalanced trade relationship will be in focus.

As of Wednesday, more than 250 representatives from 100 Chinese companies, in sectors ranging from manufacturing and banking to information technology, had confirmed their participation in next week's visit.

Officials on both sides say that in many ways the visit of 68-year-old veteran Chinese leader would be a trend setter in bilateral ties like his last visit in 2005, which saw relations surging forward specially on trade front which this year is expected to touch a record $60 billion.

A provisional list featured some of China's most well-known state-run firms, from banking behemoths Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to Sinosteel, one of the world's biggest importers of iron ore, which is India's biggest export to China.

The list featured some surprising new entrants, most notably in the real estate and construction sector.

More than 20 of China's biggest real estate players will be represented, such as the Shanghai Urban Construction Group.