Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Monday with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.  

Wen gave positive appraisal for Sino-British relations, saying the cooperation between two countries is in the interest of the two peoples, and conducive to world peace and economic development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the relations between China and European Union, international finance cooperation and poverty eradication.

Wen briefed the guest on China's current economic situation.

Brown is paying his first visit to China as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He held talks with Finance Minister Jin Renqing this morning, and both agreed to further the cooperation on finance, trade and investment.

Besides Beijing, Brown will also visit Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2005)