London, March 5 (IANS): An independent Scotland with a strong economy will benefit the whole of Britain, the head of the Scottish government has said.

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond said in a lecture hosted by the New Statesman magazine in London Tuesday that the emergence of Scotland as a “strong economic power” would be good for the rest of Britain, particularly for northern England, The Independent reported Wednesday.

“There would be a 'northern light' to redress the influence of the 'dark star' rebalancing the economic centre of gravity across these islands,” Salmond was quoted as saying.

He insisted that if Scotland holds a referendum in September this year, then the country “will become independent in more promising circumstances than virtually any nation in history”.

“Don't let them tell you we can't build a better country,” Salmond said.

“Nobody really doubts that an independent Scotland could be successful,” he added.

Salmond, however, dismissed the idea that independence would mean Scotland becoming a foreign country.

The country will exist as Ireland, Northern Ireland, England or Wales could never be foreign countries to Scotland.

"We all share ties of family and friendship, trade and commerce, history, culture, which have never depended on the parliament here at Westminster, and will endure and flourish long after independence," the minister said.