CHINA-BRITAIN/XI-ROYALS-PROTEST Xi meets British royals, Corbyn during state visit

Record ID: 136062

  • Title: CHINA-BRITAIN/XI-ROYALS-PROTEST Xi meets British royals, Corbyn during state visit
  • Date: 20th October 2015
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 20, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE CHANTING AGAINST CHINA AND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIBET PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "TIBET UNDER LOCKDOWN STOP THE OPPRESSION" PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "XI JINPING: FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR TIBET"
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA97PWBN0YCK14L7WVT8L0T7828
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday hailed the "bright future" of closer relations with Britain, addressing lawmakers as part of a pomp-laden visit during which more than $46 billion of deals are expected to be signed.
    Britain rolled out the red carpet for Xi, who was honoured with a 41-gun salute and given a ride in a gilded carriage with Queen Elizabeth before addressing lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament.
    Xi, and his wife Peng Liyuan, also met with Prince William after earlier being given a tour of Clarence House by Prince Charles and Camilla.
    Xi's welcome was steeped in pageantry, underlining the growing importance of China to Britain: Cameron hopes the visit will cement a lucrative place for Britain as Beijing's closest friend in the West.
    Hailed as the start of a "golden era" in Sino-British relations, the visit, which will seal 30 billion pounds ($46.4 billion) in deals, has been criticised by activists who accuse Prime Minister David Cameron of turning a blind eye to rights abuses.
    It has also ruffled feathers among some of Britain's traditional allies, such as the United States, where Xi's visit last month was tainted by friction over cyber-theft and Beijing's moves in Asian maritime disputes.
    Another person who is unlikely to make things easy for Xi on his visit, is main opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who also met with Xi on Tuesday.
    Corbyn promised to raise the issue of human rights with Xi when the two met.
    Police made sure the few dozen protesters outside Buckingham had little chance of disrupting a carefully choreographed ceremony which included Xi accompanying the Duke of Edinburgh, the queen's husband, to inspect the guard of honour before leading the procession.
    Those protesting against China's human rights record were kept far from the procession, with their banners all but eclipsed by "I love China" flags.
    Shouting "Don't trade away human rights" and "China: Buying UK's silence on Tibet", protesters expressed support for the Falun Gong, the spiritual sect banned as a cult in China, and called for independence for the people of Tibet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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