Britain Launches New International Immigration Strategy

Britain has launched a new strategy to crack down on illegal immigration to the country. Border control officials say it's aimed at protecting the UK border by boosting cooperation with countries including China. Our London correspondent Tu Yun reports.

The latest figures from Britain's Office for National Statistics show over 200 thousand newcomers were granted British citizenship last year. It's a rise of nearly 60 percent over 2008.

The situation has brought criticism from some who think the immigrants take job opportunities at a time when a considerable number of native Britons are unemployed.

But taxi driver Gary Dinsley says Britain needs immigrants.

"It happens everywhere, probably in every country. It's not just here. You need some immigrants because posh people won't clean, posh people won't sweep streets, posh people won't drive a bus, posh people won't drive a black cab."

To ensure the immigration serves to benefit the British economy and society, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas says it's crucial to have a well-managed system.

"In order to achieve that, we are trying to strengthen our partnerships around the world with different countries and with different organizations. The document represents a refreshed strategy first launched in 2007."

The new document is entitled "International Challenges, International Solutions: Managing the Movement of People and Goods." It's a joint strategy by the Home Office and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Preventing illegal immigration is at the heart of the action plan.

Barbara Woodward is Director of the UK Border Agency's International Group. She cites data sharing with China as an example.

"In the early part of the 2000s, it was quite difficult for us to return Chinese illegal immigrants to China. But then we've been working closely with the Chinese authorities, including the Ministry of Public Security and Chinese police, who've helped us verify the identity of these people and therefore we're able to return them to China. So we want to work closely with the Chinese authorities to stop illegal immigration but to encourage legal migration."

Woodward says Britain issued about 200 thousand visas to Chinese people coming to the UK last year. It makes China the second largest operation they had in the world after India.

The new strategy comes ahead of a looming general election, when immigration policy will be a hot topic. Opposition parties are attacking the Labor government for leaving the country's borders wide open and giving job opportunities to newcomers despite the recession hitting jobs.

But Immigration Minister Phil Woolas denies the launch of the action plan has anything to do with the election.

Tu Yun, CRI news, London.