President Hu Jintao called for more Sino-British
exchanges and cooperation when meeting with visiting British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown in Beijing on Friday.
Hu said both China and Britain shoulder important
responsibilities in maintaining world peace and promoting mutual
development. China and Britain need to enhance cooperation taking
into consideration international political and economic pattern in
the 21st century. "The Sino-British exchanges and cooperation
conform to the trend of globalization and the self-development of
the two countries, and China has always been handling Sino-British
relations from a strategic and global perspective," Hu said.
"Chinese side appreciated the British side's adherence to the
one-China policy, clear opposition to the Taiwan authorities'
planned "referendum" on UN membership, and support for China's
peaceful reunification," Hu said.
Brown said that Britain's position on one-China policy, which is
consistent, clear and firm, would not change.
Britain hoped that the two sides can enhance bilateral
cooperation in various fields as well as in addressing
international and regional issues, said Brown.
Hu Jintao also pointed to the strengthening of strategic mutual
trust, the expansion of concrete cooperation, and the increasingly
close communication and coordination in addressing international
and regional affairs. "I believe as long as both sides look into
the future and make unremitting efforts, China and Britain will
certainly be able to transcend the differences in historical
traditions, social systems, and economic development levels, and
forge a comprehensive strategic partnership to benefit Chinese and
British people and people from all over the world," Hu said
Gordon Brown arrived here early Friday morning for an official
visit to China till Sunday, the first since he took office last
June.
He also met with Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo, and held talks with Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao.
Brown and Wen have attended the signing ceremony of nearly
800-million-U.S. dollar contracts on education and energy between
the two countries, and a joint statement on climate change.
Brown said the two countries improved the mechanism of bilateral
economic and financial dialogue, set a new target for bilateral
trade, and enhanced mutual cooperation in such fields as science
and technology and environment.
He also said Britain welcomed investment from China, including
the China Investment Corporation (CIC), saying they would provide
conditions for profitable investment returns.
The two sides set a bilateral trade volume target of 60 billion
U.S. dollars by 2010.
Brown will leave Beijing for China's economic hub Shanghai on
Saturday.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2008)
