Brown seeks to take China relationship to new level

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told China on Friday he wanted Britain to be the number one choice for Chinese trade and investment as he sought to take the relationship to a "higher level".

Brown also brought up human rights and democracy in his talks in Beijing with leaders of the world's fastest-growing major economy before heading off to Shanghai on Saturday and India on Sunday.

"Britain will welcome substantial new investment from China in our country in the years to come," Brown told a news conference alongside Premier Wen Jiabao.

"We want Britain to be the number one destination of choice for Chinese business as it invests in the rest of the world."

The two leaders agreed to expand trade to a value of $60 billion by 2010, compared to about $40 billion last year, as they watched the signing of agreements on education cooperation, climate change, sustainable cities and clean-energy development.

"I believe by 2010 we will see 100 new Chinese companies investing in the UK, we will see 100 partnerships between our universities and Chinese universities and we will double the number of firms listed on the London Stock Exchange and thousands of jobs will be created," Brown said.

He added that he welcomed investment from Beijing's huge sovereign wealth fund.

"We are now able to sell to China not just financial and business services and environmental technologies, but also a whole range of British brands that are now becoming very popular among the rising number of Chinese consumers."

(Published by Reuters, January 18, 2008)