On August 22, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is here to watch the Beijing Olympic Games and attend the closing ceremony.

Hu warmly welcomed Brown to watch the Games and attend the closing ceremony, and expressed thanks for the support the British government and people have rendered for the Beijing Games. The Chinese president also congratulated Brown on the British athletes' outstanding performances at the Games. The hosting of the Summer Olympics has offered a good opportunity to deepen the cooperation between Beijing and London, Hu said. China is ready to share its experience in this regard with Britain, duly implement the cooperation plans relating to the 2012 London Games and make it a new highlight in Sino-British cooperation, he added. "We wish the London Games a success."

Brown congratulated Hu on the "spectacular success" of the Beijing Olympiad. "The dreams of people from all over the world have come true in Beijing," he said, also speaking highly of Chinese athletes' outstanding performances. Britain is willing to refer to China's successful experience in hosting the Games as well as in sports where China enjoys advantage, in an effort to host a high-level sports rally in London in 2012.

Sino-British relations have maintained a good momentum of development, Hu said. "This is in line with the practical as well as long-term interests of the two countries and deserves to be cherished by both sides." China values the development of its relations with Britain, Hu said, expressing hope that the two countries treat bilateral ties from a strategic and global perspective, respect and care for each other's major concerns, keep intensifying reciprocal cooperation and promote the sound and stable development of their all-round strategic partnership.

The world is undergoing major reforms and readjustments and the economic situation is severe and complicated, he said. As two important countries in the world, China and Britain enjoy immense potentials for cooperation in maintaining world peace and promoting common development, said the Chinese president. He suggested that the two countries maintain close communication and coordination on major international issues through multilateral and bilateral channels and push for the proper settlements of hot issues. In addition, China and Britain should intensify their cooperation to facilitate the reopening of Doha round of talks of the World Trade Organization, and promote the steady development of the world economy, said Hu. The Chinese president also called for new areas and new means of cooperation to cope with climate change, bolster energy security, and better protect the Earth, a common home for people all over the world.

Brown nodded agreement to Hu's remarks, saying Britain and China are forging ahead with their strategic partnership. The two countries have maintained rapid trade growth and enhanced exchanges in culture, education and personnel sectors, he said. Britain hopes to enhance cooperation with China to boost science and technology, tackle climate change, utilize nuclear energy and renewable energies, help African countries accomplish the United Nations' millennium goals, carry out cultural and personnel exchanges and conduct dialogue in the human rights sector, said Brown. He said Britain is ready to work with China to fight trade protectionism, push forward world trade talks, build an open and stable global trade system, and push forward the reform of international mechanism.

The two sides also exchanged views on energy, food and other international and regional issues of common concern.