91Èȱ¬

Prime Minister David Cameron will visit China in November, Downing Street has confirmed.

An invitation to Mr Cameron was extended by Chinese President Hu Jintao as they met for talks on the fringe of the G20 summit in Toronto, Canada.

During their bilateral discussions, Downing Street said the two leaders had agreed strongly on the need to increase trade between the UK and China.

Mr Cameron also had a "warm and positive" meeting with India's PM.

Mr Hu invited the prime minister to visit China on his way to the next G20 summit in the South Korean capital, Seoul, in November.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Hu said: "It is a real pleasure to meet you for the first time. Let me congratulate you on becoming prime minister of the UK."

The Chinese president said Mr Cameron had telephoned him on his second day as PM, "signalling his readiness to make a stronger relationship" with China.

He added: "This fully shows the great importance the new government of the UK, and in particular yourself, assign to the relationship with China. We highly appreciate that."

Responding, Mr Cameron said: "I attach a great importance to the relationship between Britain and China and it is a relationship I want to oversee myself."

"I look forward to our strategic dialogue."

Mr Cameron underlined his personal commitment to "an upgrade in the relationship between Britain and China, founded in a vibrant trade and economic relationship" during his 30-minute meeting with President Hu, Downing Street later said.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of current efforts to secure the global economic recovery including through fiscal consolidation, said a spokesman.

And he added that there was "a meeting of minds on global trade" with both the prime minister and the president reaffirming their desire to conclude the Doha trade round and boost UK-China bilateral trade.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has also held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, Downing Street said.

A spokesman said the British premier set out his "deep attachment to the UK-India relationship" and his "longstanding desire to develop a "special partnership' between the two countries" during the meeting.

The leaders discussed deepening ties in a range of areas, with a focus on promoting UK-India trade, business-business contacts, and education exchanges.

Downing Street said the leaders discussed foreign policy issues and agreed on the importance of a stable Afghanistan and Pakistan to the national security of both the UK and India.