China-Britain relations enter "mature" period, says Chinese premier

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday in Beijing that the relationship between China and Britain has entered a "mature period."

"The leaders of the two countries have treated bilateral ties from long-term and strategic perspectives to make the relations develop steadily and enriched with new contents," said Wen in a meeting with British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw.

Wen said China and Britain, both permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations, shoulder common responsibility for safeguarding world peace and development.

He said China will maintain high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields with Britain to push forward their comprehensive and strategic partnership.

Wen expressed appreciation for Britain's adherence to one-China policy.

Straw said China and its relationship with Britain have made remarkable achievements since he visited China two and a half years ago, noting that the two countries established comprehensive and strategic partnership last May when Premier Wen visited Britain.

The two countries have kept close contact on international and regional issues, Straw said, adding that Britain is willing to expand cooperation with China in all fields including political and economic areas.

Straw proposes areas of cooperation with China

Straw gave the keynote speech, titled "Britain and China: A Growing Global Partnership," at a seminar on multilateral responses to global challenges held in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Straw said these efforts would help consolidate and further strengthen Britain-China relations, which continuously progressed and deepened in the past years.

The two countries have maintained close contact over in recent years, and have cooperated in many international affairs, Straw said. British trade with China has doubled over the last five years.

The comprehensive strategic partnership not only benefits the two countries, but also contributes to world stability and development, he said.

Straw said Britain supports the European Union's reconsideration of the arms embargo on China it has maintained since 1989.

Britain supports the acknowledgment of China's full market economy status, and will maintain its support in the future, he said.

More than 30 government officials, experts and scholars from the two countries attended in the seminar.

Straw arrived in Beijing Thursday for an official visit to China as guest of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.