British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that Britain is to improve relations with China by holding annual summits, starting next year.
Blair on Monday gave a joint press conference with the Chi-nese prime minister in Downing Street, during Wen Jiabao's (
The two leaders announced cooperation to tackle illegal people-smuggling operations, and an agreement to preserve some self rule for Hong Kong.
There will be annual meetings between the Chinese and British prime ministers to boost political and business links.
Blair said that UK firms, including the oil company BP, had invested ?564 million (US$996 million) in trade deals with China.
And the two leaders had agreed to work more closely on global security concerns such as anti-terrorism and non-proliferation, said Wen, as well as on the environment and sustainable development.
Blair said that he had raised China's poor human rights record during his private meeting with Wen. Earlier, Number 10 had hinted that the prime minister would protest China's brutal occupation of Tibet and its suppression of the Falun Gong sect.
The impact of Britain's disapproval appeared weakened, however, at a press briefing where most of the media questions focused on Britain's human rights record in Iraq.
Wen said: "The Chinese government attaches great importance to the respect of human rights."
Blair said the two men would "continue to use human rights dialogue to raise issues of concern."
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Downing Street to protest China's human rights abuses.
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