Protestors greet Chinese President on London visit

Protestors have met Chinese President Hu Jintao as he arrived in London for a three-day state visit.

Hundreds of human rights protestors and Free Tibet supporters lined up along the Mall and outside Buckingham Palace, as Mr Hu, accompanied by his wife, Madame Liu Tongqing, arrived in a ceremonial carriage to be greeted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The protestors waved banners, as well as the Tibetan flag, as they chanted slogans denouncing the country’s record on human rights, its occupation of Tibet and the repression of the Falun Gong movement.

Director of the Free Tibet campaign, Alison Reynolds, said that she hoped the demonstration would send a strong message to the Chinese President. She said: “The point is that he gets to see the Tibetan flag, which is banned in China and Tibet. The message we want Tony Blair to deliver tomorrow is that Hu Jintao should meet the Dalai Lama.

“Tony Blair certainly has the influence, but whether he chooses to exercise it… we sincerely hope our presence in the next couple of days will send a strong message.”

However, there were also supporters of the President at the Palace to welcome the Presidential couple, waving Chinese flags.

The London Eye and Somerset House are among the capital’s landmarks, which will be bathed in red light this evening to mark Mr Hu’s visit.

Prime Minister Tony Blair had said earlier that peaceful protests about China’s human rights record would be allowed to go ahead. When Mr Hu’s predecessor, Jiang Zemin, visited London in 1999, flags and banners were confiscated from protestors.

During their three-day visit, the Presidential couple will attend a banquet with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and Mr Hu will have talks with Mr Blair.

Mr Blair said that he would discuss trade links between Britain and China with Mr Hu at their meeting, as well as international security issues.

However, Amnesty International has urged the Prime Minister to raise the issue of human rights. Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director Stephen Bowen said: “It’s imperative that Tony Blair raises human rights issues during this visit.

“China still massively restricts freedom of expression and information, still executes more people than the rest of the world put together, and still harasses and detains people who stand up for human rights.

“The economic progress of China must not blind the UK to the denial of people’s basic rights.”

Mr Hu was formerly party chief in Tibet where he declared martial law over separatists’ protests.

Last week, he reportedly called on the Dalai Lama to “renounce his Tibetan independence proposition”.

Prince Charles, who is currently on tour of the US, was accused of boycotting Mr Hu’s predecessor, Mr Jiang’s visit in 1999. The Prince has been a long-time supporter of the Dalai Lama.

The president and his wife are due to travel to Spain and Germany later this week for state visits.

US President George Bush is due to visit Beijing later this month.

(KMcA/SP)