Hope for Brown's new deal on oil?

By Laura Kuenssberg BBC political correspondent

Gordon Brown went to the summit to sell his idea for a "new deal"

Gordon Brown certainly received the red carpet treatment on his arrival in Jeddah - but did the PM's message receive a similar welcome from the world's oil producers?

The prime minister flew half-way round the world to deliver a grim diagnosis to representatives from more than 30 countries. The oil shock is having a severe impact everywhere, he says, and the demand for the fuel will keep on growing.

There may have been today, what the Conservatives have described as a "polite announcement" from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to increase supply.

But the PM's wish to comfort consumers squeezed by high prices at the petrol pumps goes much wider than simply increasing supply.

He also wants to encourage investment and use of nuclear and green energy. He's even invited oil producers to buy into nuclear in the UK.

'New deal'

He also urged representatives at the conference to promote the more efficient use of energy. Those measures he described as a "new deal" for oil producers and consumers.

Mr Brown said: "I propose that Britain and other oil consumers should open up our markets to new investment from oil producers, including sovereign wealth funds, in all forms of energy including renewables and nuclear - providing oil producers with a long-term future in non-oil energy.

"In return oil producers should be open to increasing funding and expertise in oil exploration and development through co-operation with external investors, providing increased oil supply in the medium term while growing economies adjust to a less oil-intense long-term future."

Gordon Brown received reassurance and a welcome announcement about supply from King Abdullah, the host of the conference.

"In the past few months we have raised our daily production of oil from nine million barrels to 9.7 (million) barrels," he said.

King Abdullah said he had boosted output to 9.7 million barrels per day

"And we are ready to meet any additional demands in the future."

But the prime minister's trip was shorter than planned - some of the meetings Downing Street had hoped for did not materialise.

Despite this, Downing Street hopes the PM's presence here demonstrates that he is taking action to ease the pressure on British consumers struggling with record petrol and energy bills.

He may have laid out a grand plan for the medium and long term but as yet there is no agreement on how permanently to put the brake on escalating energy prices.

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