Britain seeks stronger ties with China

By Matt Falloon

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will seek to build stronger trade and financial ties with China and push forward G20 pledges at a bilateral economic summit in London, Chancellor Alistair Darling said on Sunday.

In an article in Monday's edition of The Times newspaper, Darling will say the countries' "joint determination to respond to the global downturn must go hand in hand with efforts to expand the many links between our economies," according to an advance copy.

Darling wants access to China's stock markets for British firms and will look to expand existing co-operation on the development of China's capital markets to other financial areas.

"We must expand our program of technical collaboration and exchange -- so that those in the financial services industry, as well as regulators and central bankers -- can learn from each other," he will say.

Britain has also been seeking to ensure agreements reached at the April G20 summit in London to support growth and bolster the International Monetary Fund are honoured swiftly.

"We both recognise that it is a moral imperative, as well as in our economic interest, to act," Darling said.

Mired in what could turn out to be the worst recession since World War Two, Britain has been trying to put the building blocks of recovery in place.

British policymakers regard working with swiftly-emerging economies, such as China and India, as key to restoring growth and stability to the domestic economy.