China will continue to play a "positive role" in efforts to contain the global financial crisis, Premier Wen Jiabao told his British counterpart Gordon Brown on Tuesday, an official statement said.

"In responding to this crisis, the international community must strengthen cooperation," Wen told Brown during telephone talks, according to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry.

"China will continue to play a positive role by having a responsible attitude," the ministry quoted Wen as saying.

Wen told Brown that the crisis had so far had a "limited and controllable impact on China," emphasising that China had only gradually begun to open its financial system to the outside world in recent years.

"We will continue to take flexible and cautious measures... to ensure economic and financial stability, as well as the stability of capital markets," the Chinese premier said.