LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was expected to tell business leaders that investment from China could help drive Britain's economic recovery.

In a speech to a conference organized by the Confederation of British Industry, the main business lobby group, Brown was set to outline his belief that Britain needs to attract inward investment.

"In our new growth strategy I want not just hundreds but thousands of Chinese companies in Britain, and British companies in China," Brown said, according to excerpts released in advance by his office.