Interview: British FM says Britain-China relations "in the best shape"

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said relations between Britain and China are now "in the best shape ever," hoping to further strengthen bilateral ties in areas of shared interests.

In an exclusive written interview with Xinhua just days before her official visit to China, Beckett spoke highly of development of the relations between Britain and China.

"I think that relations between our two countries are now in the best shape ever. And I'm not the only person who thinks that. (Chinese) Premier Wen Jiabao made exactly the same point to (British) Prime Minister Tony Blair last autumn," said Beckett, who will kick off her official visit to China on Wednesday.

"There's plenty of evidence to back it up. We now have annual summits. The UK has a dedicated China Task Force. And there is a regular flow of senior level visitors in each direction," she said.

Beckett added that Britain remains China's largest investor in Europe.

"There are over 60,000 Chinese students in the UK, the largest number from any single nation, and China now publishes more joint scientific research papers with the UK than with any other European country," she said.

"My sense is that these have provided a firm platform for closer collaboration between China and the UK across an increasingly wide range of issues," said the foreign secretary.

Beckett said her upcoming tour to China would further strengthen the bilateral relations, adding that she expected to have talks with China about the challenges of climate change, migration, poverty reduction, and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"This visit is a key opportunity to further strengthen our bilateral relationship across the range of shared interests, and an important next step in the strategic partnership we have been building since 2004," she said.

She also hoped to advance the two countries' "foreign policy partnership," and to ensure that Britain works "more closely" with China on addressing shared international challenges.

Since both countries are to hold Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 respectively, she said "our shared Olympic responsibilities" would see Britain and China working even more closely together.

As for Hong Kong, Beckett praised the "achievements of the people of Hong Kong" over the past 10 years since China's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.

"The principle of 'one country, two systems' has worked well in practice... The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Joint Declaration have been respected," she said.

"Hong Kong has overcome the difficulties of the Asian financial crisis, SARS and bird flu and remains a strong, vibrant economy, with an open and liberal society," she said, adding that the Chinese government has also played its part, not least through the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement and the Individual Visit Scheme.

Since this year is the 10th anniversary of China's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, she said Britain will also organize a number of cultural events in Hong Kong, including a major exhibition of Treasures from the British Museum.

"While celebrating the past 10 years we are also looking forward to the future -- the UK will remain a committed partner for Hong Kong," she said.

On the issue of climate change, Beckett said it is the "shared dilemma" that Britain and China confronted, saying both countries have to "find a way of de-coupling growth and carbon emissions": a way to develop without destroying environment.

"The way that both China, the UK and the EU want to do that is by greater energy efficiency, renewable energy and other advanced technologies," she said, adding "it makes sense for us to work together."

As for cooperation and relations between China and Africa, Beckett said China's increasing engagement in Africa has the potential to be "a really positive thing," and increased trade and investment are essential to Africa's progress towards "achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

"There is already evidence that the 'China factor' is having a positive economic impact on the continent's growth rates," she said. "One of the most striking aspects of all this is how quickly China's role in Africa is evolving, both in terms of economic and political relations, as demonstrated by the November Summit."

Beckett said Britain and China already have regular high-level exchanges on Africa, including on development issues, and she is looking forward to discussing with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on how the two countries might strengthen and deepen the dialogue.

On the Darfur issue, she said: "The current situation in Darfur is of particular concern, and we want to work closely with China on resolving the crisis there."

Beckett is scheduled to pay her first visit to China as British foreign secretary from May 16 to May 21.

Source: Xinhua