Brown flies into Beijing
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has flown into Beijing for his first visit to China since taking over at Number 10.
Mr Brown, accompanied by more than 20 leading business figures - including Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson - is expected to focus on trade and the environment in his talks with premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao.
Other senior businessmen travelling with the Prime Minister included CBI Director General Richard Lambert, Shell chairman Jorma Ollila and Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin.
Business secretary John Hutton, and trade minister the former CBI head Lord Digby Jones were also on board.
Mr Brown has said he wants to see a 50% increase in trade with China over the next two years, possibly creating "tens of thousands" of jobs.
British officials said the UK economy, with its strength in the service sector, was well placed to compliment China's dynamic manufacturing boom.
Mr Brown also began his visit with a boost for English teaching, saying he wanted English to be come "the world's language".
He announced the British Council is to set up a new website offering internet studies for both pupils and teachers.
Mr Brown's five-day visit, his most far flung diplomatic mission since becoming Prime Minister, will also take him later this week to India where he will announce plans to train 750,000 English teachers there over the next five years.
On the first leg of his visit over the next two days in Beijing Mr Brown will also want to hear first hand of the city's preparations for this year's Olympics, with London due to host the next games in 2012.
