Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Britain next month, Queen Elizabeth’s press secretary announced Tuesday.
Hu will visit Britain between Nov. 8 and 10 and will be accompanied by his wife, Liu Yongqing. They will be staying at Buckingham Palace, the queen’s official London residence.
Campaigners said the issue of Tibet should be highlighted during Hu’s stay. Although state visits are largely ceremonial it is expected that Hu will hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The Free Tibet Campaign said, “…it is essential that the United Kingdom government stands up for human rights in China and Tibet on this occasion.
“The Free Tibet Campaign is calling on Tony Blair to ask Hu Jintao to meet the Dalai Lama (Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader).”
The Dalai Lama, who Beijing criticizes for stoking secessionist sentiment in Tibet, has called for greater autonomy but not independence from China. There have been ongoing negotiations between the Dalai Lama’s envoy and Chinese officials since 2002.
Queen Elizabeth last paid a state visit to China in October 1986.
The last state visit by a Chinese president to Britain, which took place in October 1999, attracted a lot of controversy.
Jiang Zemin was dogged by human rights protesters throughout his stay. It was even claimed, but later denied, that the queen’s son and heir, Prince Charles, avoided a banquet in honor of Jiang.
The police were also criticized during the visit for removing banners and flags from members of the Free Tibet Campaign who were lining Jiang’s route. Britain’s Foreign Office denied it had told officers to curb the protests.
