By HAMISH MACDONELL
SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
JACK McConnell responded to pressure from campaigners and used the first day of a ground-breaking trip to China yesterday to raise human rights concerns with the Chinese government.
The First Minister is in China on an education and trade mission designed to strengthen Scotland’s links with the Beijing administration.
Amnesty International, the human rights group, said before Mr McConnell left that it did not oppose ministerial visits to China, but it expected all ministers to take the opportunity to point out to the Chinese government increasing concerns in the West over Beijing’s human rights record.
A spokesman for the First Minister confirmed that one of Mr McConnell’s first acts after his arrival in the country was to raise China’s record with Zhang Yesui, the Chinese foreign minister.
The Scottish Greens praised Mr McConnell for taking such a strong stance, but said they were disappointed he had failed to raise the issue of climate change with the Chinese.
Chris Ballance, a Green MSP, said: “It is always better to talk with people than not – but we must remember that China is still a military regime with an appalling record of human rights abuses and judicial murder, and an occupying army in Tibet.”
Mr McConnell is on a five-day trip to discuss areas of interest, including education and tourism. He said he supported a tourist agreement which would allow Chinese tourists to travel to the UK for leisure.
He added: “I hope the UK and Chinese governments will finalise this agreement soon. There is a huge potential Chinese market for Scottish tourism.”
The First Minister also announced government funding to support an exchange programme between Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden and Yunnan in south-west China.
Mr McConnell said: “The Royal Botanic Garden is one of Europe’s most important scientific institutions and we are very proud of it. I am particularly proud of the work that it is carrying out in partnership with the Chinese people.”
Western demand for Chinese herbal remedies is said to be threatening the survival of plant life on the Jade Snow mountain in south-west China.
Mr McConnell announced that the Executive is to spend £60,000 on a programme enabling mountain-dwellers to travel to Edinburgh to learn modern plant propagation.
