Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao toured Britain yesterday and sought to strengthen trade links, as Bejing freed dissident activist Hu Jia in a move seen as defusing tensions over human rights.
Mr Wen arrived in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday on the second leg of an European mini-tour, as news emerged that Mr Hu, one of China’s most prominent prisoners of conscience, was to be released.
Mr Hu, 37, was jailed on subversion charges in April 2008 after angering the ruling Communist Party through years of bold campaigning for civil rights, the environment and AIDS sufferers. His release followed that of outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei last week.
On his first full day in Britain yesterday, Mr Wen launched the first new MG car to be made in 15 years, the MG6 model, hailing it as a potent symbol of friendship between London and Beijing.
The new MG6 will be assembled at the MG car plant in Longbridge, Birmingham, which is now owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), China’s largest automaker.
“The successful cooperation of the production of the MG6 and other MG vehicles is a symbol of the friendship between China and the UK,” said Mr Wen, speaking at Longbridge.
“The model can be summed up as designed in the UK, manufactured in China and assembled in the UK, thereby making the most of China’s capital and markets, as well as the UK’s technology and managerial expertise.”
Outside the factory gates, several dozen protesters were gathered to demonstrate against the visit. The protest included supporters of the Falungong spiritual movement, banned in China, and Free Tibet campaigners.
“Cameron and Wen. Human rights before trade,” read the placards of some of the protesters.
The British government’s trade minister Stephen Green also attended the MG6 launch and described SAIC as a “pioneer for Chinese investors in the UK”.
Mr Wen will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron today and attend a UK-China summit – at which Beijing is expected to unveil huge investment deals.
Meanwhile, Chinese dissident Mr Hu returned home earlier yesterday after completing a jail term for subversion – but seemed likely to be muzzled anew.
The human rights activist’s release after more than three years in prison comes after Ai emerged last Thursday from nearly three months in police custody amid a government crackdown on dissent.
Mr Hu is widely expected to be hit with the same strict curbs as those applied to Ai and a range of other activists and rights lawyers, who have apparently been ordered to keep quiet in exchange for their freedom.
Mr Hu returned to his home yesterday morning, his wife and fellow activist Zeng Jinyan said on Twitter.
Britain’s Foreign Office has yet to give an official reaction to Mr Hu’s release.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton welcomed the news – but her spokesman stressed the bloc’s demands for Beijing to treat Mr Hu fairly and accord him “full rights” after his release.
And Germany said it will press human rights issues at its first joint Cabinet meeting with China later this week, including the conditions of Ai’s release, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.