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."

Referring to what potentials the two countries could explore to enrich bilateral cooperation, Brown said "China is the world leader in manufacturing. Britain is a world leader in services and hi-tech products. So our economies compliment each other well."

The British prime minister acknowledged that the UK and China share similar challenges in pursuing sustainable development. He said "I'm very interested in President Hu's 'Scientific Development Outlook', and the emphasis on promoting not just high growth, but balanced economic development with concern for the environmental and social implications. I think that there's a great deal we can do to work with China on that agenda. So while I am in China we will be announcing cooperation on a range of initiatives, involving academia, commercial expertise and local government."

On what concrete measures the two countries could take to further expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields such as culture, education, science and technology as well as energy, Brown said "Well, we have more Chinese students than ever before studying in the UK: over 75,000 last year. And I am determined we should do all we can to increase educational exchange. So we'll be announcing expanded exchange programs for young people and graduates during my visit."

He said that the First Emperor exhibition at the British Museum has been one of the most successful exhibitions ever in Britain, and shows the huge interest in the UK in Chinese culture.

He said he is delighted that the largest ever festival of Chinese culture in the UK -- China Now -- will open next month in London.

About cooperation in science and technology, the prime minister said Chinese researchers produce more joint research papers with UK scientists than with any other European country, and the UK's world-renowned Research Councils have now opened a joint office in Beijing, so the two sides are doing a huge amount which will be recognized during his visit.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)