WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, through his meetings with the three U.S. presidential candidates and U.S. President George W. Bush, is seeking to develop ties with Washington in a more equal and balanced way, different from his predecessor Tony Blair, who was mocked as "Bush's poodle," analysts said.

    PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FIRST

    Brown chose to meet the three presidential candidates, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain first in the British ambassador's residence for 45 minutes with each of them, trying to get familiar with their viewpoints, as one of them will win the U.S. presidential election in November and will succeed Bush early next year.

    Brown praised them after the meetings for their commitment to a strong bond between the U.S. and Britain.

    "What I was convinced of, after talking to each of them and talking about the issues that concern them and concern the world, is that the relationship between America and Britain will remain strong, remain steadfast, that it will be one that will be able to meet the challenges of the future," Brown said.

    LONG-TERM SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

    Only then did Brown go to the White House to meet with Bush, who has a little more than nine months left in his term and has seen a record low of approval rating in his presidency.

    Nonetheless, both leaders stressed their common stand on hot issues including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

    On Iran, for example, both Brown and Bush called for tightening the sanctions on the country for its defiance over its nuclear programs.

    Pushed by the U.S. and Britain, the U.N. Security Council has passed three resolutions to impose sanctions on Iran. Iran has rejected the resolutions.

    While on Iraq, the two allies have been cooperating closely as there are some 7,900 British soldiers serving in Iraq's Basra Province. "The key thing there is that we are working very closely together and that we are making progress," Bush said.

    Both Bush and Brown hailed the "special relationship" between the two long-term allies.

    RELATIONS IN NEW WAYS

    However, during his visit, Brown seemed to be seeking a kind of "special relationship" different from his predecessor, Tony Blair, who has been mocked as "Bush's poodle".

    Keeping this in mind, Brown began his tenure as prime minister with a conscious effort to distance himself from Bush. More importantly, Brown tried to develop the British-U.S. "special relationship" on a more equal footing, or "in new ways" as Brown put it.

    "What I think is fascinating is that over the next few months we are developing that special relationship in new ways, a special relationship of peoples as well as of their governments," Brown said.

    The two allies should cooperate more closely in areas of universities, fights against cancer, environmental protection, science and energy, and should have more exchanges between young people in the two countries, Brown said.

    "So this is a special relationship, not just of governments but of peoples. And I look forward to its enhancement at all levels in the years to come. And I will work as hard as President Bush to make that relationship as strong as enduring for the future," Brown said.

    By saying so, Brown seems to try to send the message that he still values the "special relationship" with the United States and will try to enhance it in the future, although his own relationship with Bush may be much less close than the ties Bush enjoyed with Tony Blair.