Brown plans to take China partnership to ‘higher level’

Brown also said he would bring up human rights and democracy in his talks with leaders of the world’s fastest-growing major economy on his trip to Beijing before heading off to Shanghai on Saturday and India on Sunday.

“Britain will welcome substantial new investment from China in our country in the years to come,” Brown said at a press conference alongside Premier Wen Jiabao.

“We want Britain to be the number one destination of choice for Chinese business as it invests in the rest of the world.”

The two leaders agreed to expand trade to a value of $60 billion by 2010, compared to about $40 billion last year, as they watched the signing of agreements on education cooperation, climate change, sustainable cities and several others involving BP and clean energy development.

“I believe by 2010, we will see 100 new Chinese companies investing in the UK, we will see 100 partnerships between our universities and Chinese universities and will double the number of firms on the London Stock Exchange and thousands of jobs will be created,” Brown said. He welcomed investment from Beijing’s sovereign wealth fund.

Wen greeted Brown at the Great Hall of the People, the iconic heart of Communist Party rule. Wen assured reporters China was committed to eventual introduction of democracy.