As pro-Tibetan protests continue outside the Chinese Embassy in London, it has been confirmed that David Cameron - along with Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, Shadow Chancellor George
Osborne, Shadow Security Minister and National Security Adviser
Baroness Neville-Jones and Shadow Foreign Office Minister David
Lidington - met the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for 45 minutes this morning.
Topics for discussion included the world economy and human rights in China.
David Cameron has just released the following statement:
"I had a very good meeting with Premier Wen. I stressed to him how, if elected, a Conservative Government would be committed to a strong relationship with China, to deepening our trade relationship and to co-operating together to tackle the economic downturn. We discussed the need to avoid protectionism and the importance of keeping markets open. We also talked about how we could continue to work together to tackle issues like climate change, and the opportunities presented for new growth and jobs through 'green tech' in areas like carbon capture and storage.
“I also raised with Premier Wen the issue of human rights in China and greater participation in the political process, including at a time of economic difficulty, and our wish to see a continuing dialogue on these issues. We also discussed Iran, and I made clear the importance a Conservative Government would attach to forging a strong and united international response to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon."
Premier Wen met Gordon Brown briefly yesterday and the pair will have further talks tomorrow.
Jonathan Isaby
I bet they get on very well. Gordon Brown will almost certainly come across as a Stalinist leader to Wen .
Posted by: The Bishop swine | February 01, 2009 at 15:42
I’d like Cameron to ask Premier Wen Jiabao if he has ever seen the film Vendetta & if he can see any similarities with any countries like that around the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: T. England | February 01, 2009 at 16:36
Gizza few million jobs Wen!
Posted by: michael mcgough | February 01, 2009 at 17:01
Is that V for Vendetta film any good? I read that it was socialist crap.
The Chinese must find this country hilarious. Our economy and society crumbling and we're stressing the importance of our values to the Chinese. Premier Wen must be looking at Cameron and thinking, "Soon you will be my bitch, and then it is I that will be stressing the importance of things."
Posted by: Tristan Downing | February 01, 2009 at 18:01
Tristan Downing 18:01
Brilliant film. It is just how some may see China or how the EU is going to turn out!Well worth a watch.
Posted by: T. England | February 01, 2009 at 18:11
Is that V for Vendetta film any good? I read that it was socialist crap.
I heard (according a few Chinese friends) that it was officially banned for being too "dangerous".
Premier Wen must be looking at Cameron and thinking, "Soon you will be my bitch, and then it is I that will be stressing the importance of things."
In that case Wen could do with seeing a psychiatrist - he's having delusions!
Posted by: Raj | February 01, 2009 at 20:45
............ or the "appalling old waxworks", as Prince Charles called the Chinese leadership.
Posted by: Super Blue | February 01, 2009 at 22:04
["Premier Wen must be looking at Cameron and thinking, "Soon you will be my bitch, and then it is I that will be stressing the importance of things."
In that case Wen could do with seeing a psychiatrist - he's having delusions!]
Could be. But with our economy buggered, and Brown kicking our nation into the third world for the next half century, and China emerging as a super power, it is easy to imagine China not caring too much about Britain in the not so distant future. I really hope that the Tories can save our once great country and that it's not too late.
Posted by: Tristan Downing | February 01, 2009 at 23:11
What on earth do China's domestic politics have to do with us? How would we react if Premier Wen lectured us on Northern Ireland and ethnic relations?
This human rights piffle is a mere conceit and Cameron should have the good sense to avoid such nonsense.
Posted by: Siegfried von Bock | February 02, 2009 at 06:18
What on earth do China's domestic politics have to do with us? How would we react if Premier Wen lectured us on Northern Ireland and ethnic relations?
We'd laugh because China remains a terrible human rights violator - purely to ensure the CCP survives as the sole party of power.
The UK is willing to accept criticism and many Britons lead it. What we wouldn't accept is someone who was far worse lecturing us.
Posted by: Raj | February 02, 2009 at 07:15
Does Wen Jiabao actually know who Cameron is? From what I saw of the news, he was here to talk to Gordon Brown, not Cameron. 45 minutes is a photo op not a serious talk about a potential partnership. Talking about China's human rights record on a first meeting is like farting in front of your new girlfriends parents...
Posted by: James Maskell | February 02, 2009 at 09:07
He's been on the Beeb with Brown saying he has some "contracts" to sign. Brown is giving it big licks about all the JOBS it will create.
He said; "Thousands of British jobs will be the result of our agreements", and that "there must be no discrimination against British workers by EU Directives". Again, he'll be needing to back that up but it sounds good.
He reckons he's agreed to "double our exports" to China.
What a smashing bloke that President Wen is. This could be good for the UK for once.
Posted by: rugfish | February 02, 2009 at 12:29
Hu Jintao is the Chancellor
Wen Jiabao is Mr. Creedy
The Communist Party is Norsefire
Posted by: bbc100 | February 10, 2009 at 07:25