During the meeting at Downing Street, Blair said relations between Britain and China have seen sound development as both sides are pushing forward cooperation in trade, investment, culture, education and other fields as well as in international affairs.

Blair said he had a "very good" talk with Chinese President Hu Jintao during the North-South informal dialogue meeting at Evian, France, earlier this month, adding that he was looking forward to visiting China to boost ties between the two countries.

He also congratulated China on its decisive achievements in the struggle against SARS (serious acute respiratory syndrome).

On his part, Li Zhaoxing said both Chinese and British peoples benefit from the sound Sino-British relations.

China thanks Britain for its aid to China in fighting SARS, Li told Blair, adding that China appreciated Britain's support for China on the Taiwan issue in the World Health Organization.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, both China and Britain bear the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and promoting global development, Li said, stressing that it is very important for the two countries to strengthen view exchanges and cooperation on multilateral issues.

Prior to the meeting with Blair, Li held talks on issues about Iraq and the Korean peninsula with his British counterpart, Jack Straw, who spoke highly of China's constructive role on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Negotiations on the nuclear issue held in Beijing earlier this year represented a good start for the settlement through dialogue, Li said, expressing his hope that the dialogue process initiated by the "Beijing negotiation" could continue.

On the issue of Iraq, Straw said the security situation in Iraq remains serious at present.

The British foreign secretary noted that efforts should be made to ensure UN's participation in Iraq's post-war reconstruction and the UN resolution on Iraq should be implemented.

While confirming Britain's stance that the Iraq issue should be solved through the United Nations, Li said China's legal interests in Iraq should be guaranteed. In response, Straw said Britain would do its best in this regard.

Li arrived here Tuesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Straw.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2003)