Message from the Prime Minister to mark the Chinese New Year.

"I'd like to send my warmest wishes to everyone around the world celebrating Chinese New Year.

As the celebrations get underway - and cities across the globe are lit up with fireworks and parades -- this is a good moment to reflect on Britain's relationship with China.

It's a relationship based on deep and enduring ties between our two countries.

One part of this of course is economic -- and last year I was delighted to lead Britain's largest ever trade delegation to China.

The Chinese economy is once again set to become the world's largest later this century, a position it has held for 18 of the past 20 centuries.

Britain meanwhile is growing faster than almost any other country in the West -- and is more open to Chinese investment than any other.

And that's why in the years to come I want our two countries to continue working closely together for the mutual benefit of all our people.

But our relationship goes much deeper than economics.

It's great - for example - that so many Chinese students have the opportunity to come and study here at British universities.

And these celebrations are a reminder too of the richness and vibrancy of Chinese culture here in the UK and on this New Year I want to pay tribute to the incredible contribution that the British Chinese community makes to this country.

So let me once again wish you a Happy New Year -- and every possible success for the next twelve months.

Xin nian kuai le."