LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday (local time) met with visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, pledging that he will promote bilateral relations between Britain and China.

During the meeting at Downing Street, Blair said relations between Britain and China have seen sound development as both sides promote co-operation in fields such as trade, investment, culture and education as well as international affairs.

Blair said he had a "very good" talk with President Hu Jintao during the North-South informal dialogue meeting at Evian, France, earlier this month, adding that he is looking forward to visiting China to advance ties between the two countries.

He also congratulated China on its decisive achievements in the struggle against SARS.

For his part, Li Zhaoxing said both the Chinese and British peoples stand to benefit from sound Sino-British relations.

China thanks Britain for its aid to China in fighting SARS, Li told Blair, adding that the country appreciates Britain's support for China on the Taiwan question concerning the World Health Organization.

As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Britain shoulder responsibility for safeguarding world peace and promoting global development, Li said. To meet this end, the two countries should strengthen co-operation on multilateral issues, Li added.

Prior to the meeting with Blair, Li held talks with his British counterpart Jack Straw on the issues of Iraq and the Korean Peninsula. Straw spoke highly of China's constructive role on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Negotiations on the nuclear issue held in Beijing earlier this year represented a good start for the settlement through dialogue, Li said.

Li also expressed his hope that the dialogue process initiated by the "Beijing negotiation" can continue.

The British foreign secretary noted that efforts should be made to ensure the UN's participation in Iraq's post-war reconstruction and the UN resolution on Iraq should be implemented.

Xinhua

(China Daily 06/27/2003 page1)