Britain will continue to boost its strategic partnership with China, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told Chinese reporters on Thursday.

Beckett, who will pay her first visit to China slated for May 16-21 as the British foreign secretary, regarded her upcoming Chinese tour as an opportunity for strengthening bilateral ties and the maintenance of the Britain-China strategic partnership of cooperation.

The two sides are expected to discuss such topics of common concerns as economic globalization, energy security and climate change, she said, noting that close bilateral relationship will be developed.

Beckett, while saying Britain has considered Hong Kong a bridge between China and Britain, praised the Chinese government's policy toward the administration of Hong Kong.

She said the ten years since China's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, have been successful, hoping Hong Kong will maintain its current upward trend of development and prosperity

In January 1998, Beckett visited China as president of the British board of trade.

Source: Xinhua