We’re not here to talk about human rights, China warns Britain

THE Chinese president is not coming to Britain to ‘debate human rights’, his officials insisted ahead of tomorrow’s state visit.

In a warning to Jeremy Corbyn, China’s UK ambassador said he did not expect the issue to be discussed during the Queen’s state banquet.

Liu Xiaoming said that British politicians ‘know how to behave on occasions like this’.

He claimed China did not shy away from ‘candid discussion’ of human rights, but said it should be undertaken in private.

President Xi Jinping and his wife will visit the UK for three days, with a stay at Buckingham Palace and a white-tie state banquet attended by David Cameron and Mr Corbyn.

The visit is expected to see the signing of multi-billion-pound deals for China to i nvest in replacing Britain’s ageing nuclear power plants – despite concerns raised by the security services.

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said last week that the Labour leader would seek to raise human rights abuses in private meetings, but did not rule out discussing the issue at the dinner.

Asked if the president would be offended by this, Mr Liu said: ‘You think [the] Labour Party will raise this issue at a state banquet? I don’t think so. I think the president is here for co-operation, for partnership. He is not here for debate about human rights.’

He told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1: ‘I think the state banquet is for Her Majesty, it is her show… Jeremy Corbyn or others are their guests. I think British people are very, very smart, they know how to behave on occasions like this.’

The ambassador said he met with Mr Corbyn last week, and confirmed he would be granted an audience with Mr Xi. After a successful trip to China by George Osborne l ast month, David Cameron has spoken of a ‘golden era’ in relations with China.

The Treasury hopes to make China Britain’s second largest trade partner within a decade, and this week may see 150 deals signed – including on healthcare, aircraft manufacturing and energy.

The last Chinese state visit was in 2005, when hundreds of campaigners protested over its poor human-rights record. Amnesty International said China executes more people than any other nation – potentially thousands a year – while freedom of expression is limited and activists face harassment and arbitrary detention.

Mr Osborne raised human rights privately during his visit to Beijing, and British officials say the delegation can expect ‘robust’ discussion behind the scenes this week.

Prince Charles declined to attend the state banquet but, in an unu- sual move, he has invited Mr Xi and his wife to tea at Clarence House. The private meeting would give the Prince, who is long-standing friends with exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, a chance to raise concerns over human rights.

In an article yesterday, Mr Xi praised Britain’s ‘visionary’ decision to seek closer ties with China, but warned of the need to ‘warmly welcome friends and be hospitable to them’. Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, chairman of the All- Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet, said last night: ‘It is ultimately in the interests of the UK that it does not allow the Chinese Communist Party to tell it what to do. Kowtowing to Beijing only makes us weaker.’

‘They know how to behave’