Chinese president meets British prime minister

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Friday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is in Beijing to attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Hu said he was pleased to meet Brown for the third time this year, and welcomed the prime minister to the Beijing Games.

He expressed appreciation and thanks for Brown, who, in a gesture of support for the Beijing Games, greeted the Beijing Olympic flame at his residence at No. 10 Downing Street when it was relayed to London in April.

Hu also voiced gratitude for Britain's valuable assistance and support to China after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Wenchuan County in the southwestern Sichuan Province on May 12.

Brown expressed congratulations on the "spectacular success" of the Beijing Olympiad. "With the whole world watching, the Beijing Olympic Games have captured the imagination of the whole global community," he said.

He also spoke highly of Chinese athletes' outstanding performances. China has taken 47 gold medals, "perhaps even higher", he said.

Beijing has "set a new standard" that London will "seek to follow", said Brown. He voiced confidence that the London Games of 2012 will also prove a success and Chinese athletes will score good results there as well.

Brown said he is happy to learn that the sports administrations of the two countries have reached an agreement on cooperation, which will boost their collaboration for the London Games, especially in such events as diving and table tennis, where China enjoys advantage.

Source:Xinhua