Prime Minister to visit China in November

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

Chinese president Hu Jintao extended an invitation to the PM as the two men 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 and to reach a conclusion to the long-running Doha global trade talks.

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 that 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."

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.

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."