Interview: China-UK relationship is "better than ever"

Source: Xinhua | 01-16-2008 11:36

LONDON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The comprehensive strategic relationship between Britain and China is "better than ever," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday.

"Over the past few years we have seen a steady increase in cooperation in some areas, and a quite dramatic change in others. On trade, education or cultural exchanges we're working more closely with China than ever before. And on international issues, whether working together to resolve major conflicts or to tackle climate change, we have a closer dialogue now than we have ever had," Brown said in a written interview with correspondents of Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily based in London.

"But there's potential to take our cooperation to a higher level, across a whole range of issues. That's why I'm visiting China - and I look forward to discussing with Premier Wen and other leaders and members of society how we can move forward," said Brown who is going to pay his first visit to China on Jan. 18-20 as the British prime minister.

Seeking his comments on Sino-UK cooperation in various fields which has produced mutually beneficial results, Brown said, "Yes, the benefits are enormous. I welcomed representatives of the UK Chinese community to No. 10 (Downing Street) yesterday and was struck by the huge range of contributions Chinese people, and others with Chinese backgrounds, make to our multicultural society."

But the benefits are also a case of hard economic fact, he said, adding Britain is the largest EU investor in China and in total China now exports more than the United States, so China is an enormous market for key UK industries and services and "during my visit we will announce new trade targets to reflect this."