Brown hails new partnership with China
Updated on 18 January 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has welcomed a new level of partnership with China which he said could create tens of thousands of jobs for British workers.
Mr Brown said he wanted two-way trade with China's booming economy to increase by 50 per cent in the next two years.
And he said he wanted to see 100 new Chinese companies investing in the UK by 2010.
Mr Brown was speaking in Beijing after talks with Premier Wen Jiabao in the Great Hall of the People.
Mr Brown said: "I believe that tens of thousands of jobs in Britain for British workers can be created by the closer co-operation between our two countries.
"It's true we are 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."
He added: "Amidst the global economic difficulties and turbulence, the importance of China and our growing relationship is absolutely crucial to the success of the global economy as a whole.
"I'm delighted we are able to move our relationship forward to a new level of co-operation."
Mr Brown is accompanied on his trip by 25 leading British business figures, including Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and CBI director general Richard Lambert, who were taking part in a UK-China business summit in Beijing.
Mr Brown is scheduled to visit Beijing's People's University and attend an Olympic event to hear first hand of the city's preparations for this year's games ahead of London hosting the 2012 Olympics.
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