British PM in India to Boost Economic Ties

       British PM in India to Boost Economic Ties

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is in India for a two-day visit aimed at boosting economic and trade relations.

 

Mr. Brown Sunday described ties between India and Britain as a "partnership of equals," adding that he would like to see greater cooperation between the two countries' security agencies.

 

Mr. Brown is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sign a number of business deals.

 

He is also expected to press Indian officials to join an international alliance (the Financial Action Taskforce) aimed at cracking down on money laundering and terrorism financing.

 

Mr. Brown arrived in India Sunday following a two-day trip to China that focused on expanding trade, investment and environmental cooperation.

 

On Friday, Britain and China signed a declaration that commits London to provide Beijing with at least $100 million in support of energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner technologies.

 

China, which gets most of its energy from its own coal reserves, will soon become the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases. However, the British prime minister says Beijing takes the problem of climate change seriously.

 

Britain and China say they hope to increase their trade to $60 billion by 2010 from the estimated $40 billion last year. Mr. Brown says he hopes increased trade will create tens of thousands of British jobs.