Peter Wilson

Premier Wen Jiabao visited the UK from 31 January to 2 February, for the annual summit between China and the UK, which was held in London this year. He had a private dinner with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday, and he and his high powered delegation had formal talks and a lunch with the Prime Minister and several members of the British cabinet on Monday. Foreign Secretary David Miliband also held talks with Foreign MInister Yang Jiechi on Sunday afternoon. The two leaders also attended a breakfast seminar with economic and financial thinkers, and a meeting with British business leaders.

These talks were important, and reached agreement on some big issues - details of the press conference, and agreements reached, are on www.number10.gov.uk . Premier Wen's schedule was packed. He gave an in depth interview to the Financial Times (the transcript is at www.ft.com/wen ), and speeches to the China Britain Business Council, and to Cambridge University (full text at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/03/content_10753336.htmand ). He saw some of the Chinese companies who have invested successfully in the UK, and toured China Town as part of Chinese New Year.

The joint declaration http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/03/content_10753162.htm agreed between the two sides highlighted the importance of tackling the economic crisis together, and provided an important building block in preparation for the G20 London Summit, scheduled for April 12. More at http://www.londonsummit.gov.uk/en/ .