British ambassador: Wen's visit to strengthen ties

China and Britain will announce important new agreements to push the bilateral relationship forward and ¡°chart the way ahead¡± to the next stage of development of the relationship during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Britain which will begin on Sept. 12.

That has been unveiled by Mr. William Ehrman, British Ambassador to China in an exclusive interview by People's Daily Online. He also expected that Prime Minister Tony Blair and Premier Wen would discuss the Iran nuclear issue which China and Britain have ¡°cooperated very closely in recent months¡±, as well as the situation in the Middle East and in Lebanon.

Mr. Ehrman believes that the annul summit level meetings between the two premiers ¡°have ensured that the relations have increasingly strategic nature¡±.

He assured that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement last week announcing his step-down next year would not affect London's willingness to develop relationship with China. ¡°We will continue to strengthen (the relationship with China) in the years ahead,¡± said Mr. Erhman.

According to Mr. Erhman, the cooperation between China and Britain on trade and investment, on education and culture, on energy and climate security, and on sustainable development will be the focus of Premier Wen's visit.

In Premier Wen's last visit to London in 2004, said Mr. Erham, Wen proposed a bilateral trade target of 40 billion US dollars by 2010. Last year the total trade, including trade in goods and services, reached 32 billion US dollars. Britain is expecting more new contracts from Premier Wen during his upcoming visit.

Mr. Ehrman also disclosed that two working groups, one for climate change and the other for energy, would be established by China and Britain. The agreement for the establishment of the two groups will be signed during Wen's visit to Britain.

Mr. Ehrman said Premier Wen Jiabao would hold a meeting and a press conference with his British counterpart Tony Blair after meetings with British businessmen and Deputy Prime Minister.

By People's Daily Online