British PM floats proposals to strengthen relationship with US

LONDON (AFP) — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is set to kick off a three-day tour of the United States Wednesday, floated a raft of proposals aimed at strengthening the two countries' "special relationship".

In a comment piece published in the Wall Street Journal, Brown called for greater cooperation and exchanges between British and American universities, entrepreneurs, charities, scientific researchers and young people, as well as increased efforts to cement English as the world's most popular language.

"The special relationship should be forged not merely by formal ties between governments, but by widening and deepening understanding and contact between people," Brown wrote, according to a copy of the comment piece distributed by his Downing Street office.

The prime minister left Britain Tuesday evening for a three-day tour of the United States, during which he will meet with US President George W. Bush, Wall Street financiers, and deliver ...