By Andrew Woodcock,
Political Correspondent
Prime Minister Tony Blair will raise concerns about democracy in Hong Kong and human rights in Tibet when he meets Chinese premier Wen Jiabao this afternoon, a Foreign Office minister said today.
Mr Blair is expected to discuss trade opportunities potentially worth billions to British companies with Mr Wen during his three-day official visit to the UK.
But the Foreign Office minister with responsibility for China, Bill Rammell, insisted that economic considerations would not inhibit Britain from speaking out on human rights issues.
Mr Rammell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is important, obviously, that we have a trade relationship with China.
“We are talking about a country that in 15 years’ time will be the second biggest economy in the world and it would be foolish and not in our national interest if we weren’t seeking to develop our trade relationship.
“But that doesn’t stop us, where we have disagreements, from raising those issues both publicly and privately.”
Mr Blair would urge China to continue contacts with representatives of Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said Mr Rammell.
“We are saying that to get a lasting and peaceful solution that is acceptable to the people of Tibet, that process of dialogue and constructive discussion needs to take place,” he said.
And he said the PM would voice concern over a recent announcement by China’s powerful National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) that effectively ruled out democratic elections in Hong Kong in 2007-08.
“Hong Kong will be a feature of discussions this afternoon,” said Mr Rammell.
The NPCSC decision was “something that gives us concern and doesn’t seem to us to be consistent with the high degree of autonomy guaranteed under the terms of the Joint Declaration”, agreed between the UK and China at the time of Hong Kong’s handover to mainland rule, he added.
Other issues expected to be raised today include global security and climate change, he said.
Mr Wen was being greeted by a guard of honour at the Foreign Office today before his meeting with Mr Blair. He will meet the Queen tomorrow.
It is his first visit to the UK since he came to office in March last year and is part of a wider European trip.
Yesterday, about 150 protesters from the Free Tibet movement and the Falun Gong movement gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London.
Alison Reynolds, director of the Free Tibet campaign, said: “Tony Blair should be at the forefront of holding dialogue with China about Tibet.”
She said Wen Jiabao was part of a new generation of Chinese leaders and was optimistic about his leadership on the issue of China’s 54-year occupation of Tibet.
Scotland Yard said there were no incidents and no arrests at the protest.
