Brown makes first visit to China as PM; focuses on trade

(M&C) - Gordon Brown has arrived in Beijing for the start of his first visit to the country as prime minister. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) during the Sino-Britain Industrial and Commercial Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 18 January 2008. Brown is on his first visit to China as Prime Minister, and he is expected to focus on the environment, the crisis in Darfur, and economic trade between the two countries. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) during the Sino-Britain Industrial and Commercial Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 18 January 2008. Brown is on his first visit to China as Prime Minister, and he is expected to focus on the environment, the crisis in Darfur, and economic trade between the two countries. EPA/DIEGO AZUBELMr Brown and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao both discussed trade in their opening discussions at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.Speaking to reporters following talks in the capital, Mr Brown said the trade relationship between the two countries was "absolutely crucial" to the health of the world's economy. He said he and Mr Wen had agreed to boost two-way trade to £30bn over the next two years."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," Mr Brown said. "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: "We said we want Britain to be the number one destination of choice for Chinese business as it invests in the rest of the world."Premier Wen confirmed the increase in bilateral trade at the joint press conference.