Visiting British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said in Shanghai Tuesday that he hoped his China visit would encourage more Chinese to travel to Great Britain now that the country has become a permitted outbound tourism destination.

Brown said China's vigorous growth has greatly contributed to the world economy, and he hoped his visit could promote Britain's cooperation with China in finance, commerce, education, tourism and sports industry.

Britain, which now attracts 70,000 Chinese tourists annually, hopes to attract 200,000 in 2010 and 500,000 in 2020, said Brown.

Brown is paying his first visit to China since taking office. Shanghai is his second stop. In Beijing, he held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and his Chinese counterpart Jin Renqing.

He will also visit Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua