Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council who is paying a visit to London met respectively with Michael J. Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons on May 10, 2004 and Lord Falconer, Speaker of the House of Lords on the following day.

Premier Wen conveyed the greetings from Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo to the two Speakers. He said that an important result of this visit is the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland issued by the two sides and both sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. China would like to strengthen mutual relations from a long-term perspective. This is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but conducive to peace, stability and common prosperity of the whole world.

Premier Wen noted that exchanges between the two parliaments are an important part of bilateral relations. To strengthen these relations, each side has established a counterpart group  with very active exchanges. Since there are differences between China and the United Kingdom in their social systems, cultural traditions and levels of development, it is normal for the two countries to hold different views on some issues. However, bilateral relations will be able to enjoy more development so long as the two sides respect each other, treat each other as equals, enhance communication and deepen understanding.

The two Speakers indicated that both the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom attach great importance to UK-China relations and support the British government to develop relations with China. They would like to strengthen exchanges with China's NPC so as to conduct communication and cooperation on such issues as legislation, justice and education.

Premier Wen also met with Chairman of the Britain-China Group of the British House of Commons Ben Chapman and some cross-party commons in the group.

During the visit, Wen attended the breakfast meeting by Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Robert Finch. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng, heads of the Financial Services Authority and a dozen of well-known bankers were present at the meeting. The two sides exchanged views on China-UK financial cooperation.

Wen also met with the heads of the 48 Group Club and expressed his appreciations for the courageous act of the 48 Group of British Traders with China, the predecessor of the 48 Group Club, to break through the western trade block to China in the early 1950s and to open the door for China-UK trade in the spirit of an icebreaker. He hoped that the 48 Group Club would continue to play a positive role as always in developing economic and trade relations between the two countries.

On May 10, Premier Wen went to the University of Oxford to hold warm talks with some students.

On May 10 and 11, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Director of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai and Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, who were accompanying Premier Wen during his visit to the United Kingdom, respectively held talks with their counterparts: British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt on such issues as the reform of the United Nations (UN), Iraq's reconstruction, the improvement of macroeconomic control system, China-UK economic and trade cooperation and bilateral development assistance.

During Premier Wen's visit to the United Kingdom, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai attended the signing ceremony of six agreements between the relevant Chinese departments and British businesses such as British Petroleum (BP). Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Liu Yanhua and Vice Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng respectively signed the five agreements including the Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Legal Personnel Exchanges and Combating Illegal Migration, the Memorandum of Understanding on the China-UK High-tech Business Park, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Maritime Science and Technology, and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Regular Dialogue Mechanism for Education.