Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on Monday urged Britain to remain in the European Union (EU).

Raffarin, who was prime minister of France from 2002 to 2005, told an audience of business people and entrepreneurs at the ongoing Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit here, that Britain's continued EU membership was something he was personally interested in.

Raffarin said "how much I am attached to the presence of the UK in Europe."

He also said cooperation was needed between nations to achieve the best goals, and that the EU needed reform, but reform would be aided by Britain staying in the EU after the referendum on June 23.

"In order to reform Europe we need the UK," said Raffarin.

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown while addressing the same event said that he expected the result of the referendum to be Britain remaining in Europe.

source : xinhua