Chinese President Xi Jinping rode in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday after a royal salute began a pomp-laden visit Britain hopes will secure investment but which has drawn criticism
Chinese President Xi Jinping rode in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday after a royal salute began a pomp-laden visit Britain hopes will secure investment but which has drawn criticism over human rights.
With a few dozen protesters outnumbered by the thousands of China supporters thronging The Mall, one of London’s most famous avenues, Mr Xi and Queen Elizabeth rode by in a closed carriage to the palace for a private lunch. It was a welcome steeped in pagean-try, underlining the importance of Mr Xi’s visit to London, which Prime Minister David Cameron hopes will cement a lucrative place for Britain as China’s closest friend in the West.
Alternately hailed as the start of a “golden era” or “golden time” in Sino-British relations, the visit, which will seal billions of pounds in deals, has been criticised by activists who accuse Mr 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 Mr Xi’s visit last month was tainted by friction over cyber-theft and Beijing’s moves in Asian maritime disputes.
The police made sure the few dozen protesters 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.
