This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27879021
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to meet Queen and Cameron | Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to meet Queen and Cameron |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is due to meet the Queen and David Cameron on the first full day of his visit to the UK. | Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is due to meet the Queen and David Cameron on the first full day of his visit to the UK. |
Mr Li arrived in Britain on Monday for the three-day official visit. | |
It is the first UK visit by a Chinese premier since a row in 2012 over the prime ministers's meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. | |
Mr Li has said he hopes the trip will help to "change misperceptions and misgivings" about his country. | Mr Li has said he hopes the trip will help to "change misperceptions and misgivings" about his country. |
The UK has said it remains "deeply concerned" about human rights abuses in China. | |
High-level relations between the UK and China were frozen for a time but, after a change of leadership at the top of the Chinese Communist Party in March 2013, Mr Cameron visited the country in December. | High-level relations between the UK and China were frozen for a time but, after a change of leadership at the top of the Chinese Communist Party in March 2013, Mr Cameron visited the country in December. |
Visa changes | Visa changes |
At the start of Mr Li's visit, the Home Office announced a new visa service, to be offered to all Chinese visitors to the UK following a pilot programme for tour operators last year. | |
Business visitors and tourists will be able to use a single application for their visas for Britain as well as for a Schengen visa, which allows access to 26 European countries. | |
The move comes after Chinese authorities complained about the difficulties in travelling to the UK compared with other European countries - where one visa allows people to visit almost all the other EU member states. | The move comes after Chinese authorities complained about the difficulties in travelling to the UK compared with other European countries - where one visa allows people to visit almost all the other EU member states. |
Announcing the changes, Home Secretary Theresa May said the number of Chinese visitors to Britain was "soaring". | Announcing the changes, Home Secretary Theresa May said the number of Chinese visitors to Britain was "soaring". |
Mr Li, who has been accompanied by a large business delegation, is expected to formally agree commercial deals and investments worth up to £18bn in areas such as energy and finance. | Mr Li, who has been accompanied by a large business delegation, is expected to formally agree commercial deals and investments worth up to £18bn in areas such as energy and finance. |
Analysis: Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor | |
Today is a mix of pomp, politics and money. | |
Act One is at Windsor Castle for an audience with the Queen - for Mr Li, a priceless photo opportunity to impress the public back home. | |
Act Two is at Downing Street - a prime ministerial summit to underline the message that business is now at the heart of the UK-China relationship, with the prickly topic of human rights discussed behind closed doors. | |
But there will be two episodes with less predictable choreography - a Tibetan demonstration against the Chinese premier in Whitehall and a brief news conference with the British media. The Chinese will expect both to be carefully controlled. | |
For Act Three of his day Mr Li will be safely back in his comfort zone - addressing a business audience over dinner at the Natural History Museum. | |
Meat deal | Meat deal |
Negotiations to end a Chinese ban on imports of British beef and lamb will be announced as Mr Li and Mr Cameron meet in Downing Street. | Negotiations to end a Chinese ban on imports of British beef and lamb will be announced as Mr Li and Mr Cameron meet in Downing Street. |
Restrictions were imposed by China in response to the BSE outbreak in the 1980s and 1990s but it is expected that formal official-level talks will begin on opening up a market that could be worth up to £120m to the British economy. | |
The Chinese premier is visiting the UK as part of a tour of European countries. | The Chinese premier is visiting the UK as part of a tour of European countries. |
Campaign group Free Tibet has written to the Queen calling on her not to meet Mr Li. | Campaign group Free Tibet has written to the Queen calling on her not to meet Mr Li. |
The letter said such a meeting "does not appear to be in the interests of the monarchy, the United Kingdom, or those resisting oppression across the world". | The letter said such a meeting "does not appear to be in the interests of the monarchy, the United Kingdom, or those resisting oppression across the world". |