DIFFERENCES ON IRAN, DARFUR
While Britain is keen to promote trade with China, the two countries do not always see eye-to-eye on Iran, Myanmar or the conflict in Sudan's Darfur province. And Brown said this week he would continue to press Beijing on human rights issues.
A Chinese diplomat said it was very important for Britain and China, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to sit down regularly and discuss international issues such as Iran, Darfur, Myanmar and the Middle East.
Western politicians and rights groups have accused China in the past of selling Khartoum arms that end up in Darfur and fending off stronger U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Brown said on Wednesday he had just talked with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao about Darfur and would have talks with him in China about stepping up pressure for a peaceful settlement.
On Iran, Britain has supported its ally, the United States, in pressing for new sanctions against Tehran's nuclear activities, but China wants a negotiated solution.
And unlike Britain, China has been reluctant to criticise Myanmar's military rulers publicly.
Some business contracts are expected to be signed during Brown's first visit to Beijing as prime minister.
But the Chinese diplomat said he would be surprised if they were comparable with the near $30 billion (15.3 billion pounds) of deals French President Nicolas Sarkozy oversaw during his visit in November.
Britain has been the biggest European Union investor in China over the past few years but it has been less successful than European rivals in exporting to China.
Chinese figures released last week showed German exports to China were worth nearly six times as much as British exports.
