London, Jan. 17: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will embark on official visits to China and India from today.

This will be Brown's first visit to these two significantly important Asian countries as Prime Minister. He visited both countries as Britain's Chancellor of Exchequer (Finance Minister), and according to sources at 10, Downing Street (the Prime Minister's official residence), he will use his trip to convince the Chinese and Indian leaderships to sign a post-Kyoto Protocol (on climate change) deal from 2012.

According to sources, Brown would also discuss the state of the world economy with his counterparts -- Wen Jiabao and Manmohan Singh, amid fears of a recession in America and a global downturn.

The agenda for the China trip will include a possible review and understanding of the preparations that China is making for the Beijing Olympics, so that London can learn and emulate the experience when it plays host to the event in 2012. Bilateral talks will focus on ways to enhance two-way trade and investment, and cooperation in the fields of science, technology and education.

The India leg of the tour, which begins this Sunday, is expected to focus on the next steps in the Indo-British Partnership activated during the Premiership of hispredecessor Tony Blair. Brown is expected to call on President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, and meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other members of the Indian leadership. (ANI)