The UK on Tuesday responded positively to China's request for being recognized by the EU as a full market economy.

 

The visiting British Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alistair Darling said "we will do our best" in response to State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan's request for Britain's bigger role on EU's early decision on China's market economy status.

 

"China would like Britain to fully play its role as a big western country and an important EU member to push the EU's early recognition of China as the full market economy," Tang said.

 

Tang also called for Britain's support on EU lifting arms embargo on China.

 

"The sooner the EU and China recognize each other as good trading partners, the more the two will benefit," said Darling, who was paying the first visit to China in his current capacity.

 

"I am optimistic that all the issues can be dealt with in a spirit of cooperation," he told Tang.

 

Tang's meeting with Darling came a day after the fifth session of the Sino-British Joint Economic and Trade Commission, which was co-chaired by Darling and his Chinese counterpart Bo Xilai in Beijing.

 

Bo and Darling vowed to promote cooperation in trade and investment, and enhance dialogue on trade protectionism, resumption of the Doha talks and intellectual property rights protection.

 

The first conference of the Sino-British joint committee was held in 1996.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2006)