Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called for enhanced cooperation between China and the United States in face of the worsening financial crisis.

"The priority of the two countries under the current circumstances should be working together to fight the financial crisis and promote the constructive and cooperative bilateral relations, "Wen said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Wen said China wants to enhance cooperation with the U.S. to meet the financial crisis together as that represents the larger interest and serves the fundamental purposes of both countries.

It has not been long since the inaugural speech of new U.S. President Barrack Obama and China has been following the statements made by the new U.S. administration, Wen said.

He also said the Chinese government looks forward to early contacts with the new U.S. government.

"We believe that to maintain cooperation between China and the United States serves world peace, stability and prosperity," the premier said.

Wen said Obama expressed his readiness to enhance cooperation with China in a telephone conversation with President Hu Jintao last Friday.

"Yet, at the same time, we do see there are different voices within the United States itself," he said.

The premier called on the U.S. government to view its relations with China from a long-term and strategic perspective.

"I think the U.S. government has a decisive role to play in making the right decisions," Wen said.

Wen arrived in London on Saturday for a three-day official visit. Britain is the last leg of his week-long European tour, which began Tuesday and has already taken him to Switzerland, Germany, the European Union headquarters in Brussels and Spain.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2009)