Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has met British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in Beijing about ways to deepen ties.

During their talks, Miliband again repeated his country's opposition to a "referendum" by Taiwan authorities who want to join the United Nations in the name of Taiwan.

CRI reporter Tu Yun has more.

At a news conference following their talks, Yang Jiechi said Sino-British relations are better than ever, as are bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

"We agreed to continue high-level exchanges of visits, give full play to the role of task forces, strategic dialogue and the economic and financial dialogue which will be soon launched. We will deepen mutual trust and extend our cooperation in finance, education, science and technology, culture and Olympics."

Yang JiechI also said China and the United Kingdom should work harder to ensure to meet the trade target of 60 billion US dollars by 2010, a new target set by the two countries' leaders.

He said China and the UK should also have closer consultation and cooperation on key international and regional matters.

"We should strengthen the UN's role in world peace-keeping; make the nuclear non-proliferation treaty more effective; promote international action on a low-carbon economy. We should also make efforts to achieve the UN'S millennium development goals."

Miliband said his first visit to China as Foreign Secretary was significant.

"I believe that the visit of Prime Minister Brown and now my visit represent the development of our relationship into a genuine partnership. The foreign minister has outlined substantive joint work between our ministries on issues of count proliferation, stabilization, low-carbon development and millennium development goals."

On Taiwan, Miliband said the British Government adheres to the one-China policy and opposes to a proposed "referendum on Taiwan's UN membership".

"We do not support the 'referendum' of joining in the United Nations in the name of Taiwan. We believe it is important for both sides to work to reduce tension in the Straits in the interests of regional peace and security."

Miliband, who started his six-day official visit to China on Sunday, has also made stops in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Chongqing.

Tu Yun, CRI news.