BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Grammy-winning, Colombian singer Shakira praised each other for working to help provide an education for the world's poorest children, media reported on Tuesday.

    Brown joined a telephone conference Monday with Shakira, praising the Colombian pop sensation for taking "an inspirational role" in work to provide a basic education for every child in the world.

    Shakira also praised Brown, who as British treasury chief in 2006 pledged 15 billion U.S. dollars over 10 years for education in the developing world — "the largest offer of aid" from a Group of Eight industrialized nation.

    The singer, famed for her hit "Hips Don't Lie," is supporting a week of events to highlight the cause of education advocacy group the Global Campaign for Education.

    She said the group is pressing world leaders to provide funding for primary education for 72 million young children who now miss out on schooling as a result of poverty.

    The group also aims to generate support for some 226 million older children who miss out on classes because of a lack of access to schools, or because of truancy.

    (Agencies)