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)