The British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is visiting China in an attempt to open a new chapter in relations after the handover of Hong Kong last July.

Mr Cook is meeting the Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Foreign Minister Qian Qichen in Beijing before going on to Hong Kong.

British officials said they want a fresh start in relations with China. But they said Mr Cook's visit to Hong Kong would demonstrate Britain's continuing commitment to the territory.

Planned meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin

They say the evidence is that China is fulfilling its commitment to allow Hong Kong real autonomy.

During his visit, Mr Cook is expected to raise human rights issues on behalf of the European Union.

The EU is concerned about the number of political prisoners in China's jails.

"The EU has put forward a list of human rights cases and he'll certainly speak in support of that," said a Foreign Office spokesperson.

The BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent Nicholas Witchell reports from Beijing (Dur 39")

"Nobody pretends that in a country as great as China and with the political system it has, changes will happen overnight or come without difficulty.

"We believe that some changes are worth achieving rather than sitting back and doing nothing," he said.

Mr Cook proclaimed an ethical foreign policy for Britain on taking office last May.

Last week he said he was too busy to meet prominent exiled dissident Wei Jingsheng in London.

Mr Cook is also likely to press for more licences for British insurance companies and banks to operate in China and for more air links between Britain and China.

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to visit China later this year.

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