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Focus on China

Nuclear deal expected in Chinese state visit to Britain

– Sumptuous banquet –

Xi enjoyed a glittering state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, where the monarch called his visit “a defining moment in this very special year for our bilateral relationship.”

Xi rode to the palace in a gilded carriage past thousands of supporters with Chinese flags, while around 200 protesters denounced China’s human rights record.

Xi also addressed parliament in a rare honour for visiting dignitaries, promising to lift relations between Britain and China to “a new height”.

Cameron has been accused by some observers of kowtowing to China in a bid for investment and the visit comes at a particularly sensitive time as thousands of jobs are being cut in Britain’s steel sector, partly due to low Chinese steel prices.

Leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, 19, who attended a protest against Xi near Buckingham Palace, told AFP that the prospect of Chinese cash “has blinded the eyes of David Cameron”.

“I just hope the British government and the British people can stand up for democracy because so many people in China are silenced and cannot stand up.”

Campaigners waved the Tibetan flag and held placards reading: “End the Crackdown” and “Cameron: Don’t Trade Away Human Rights”.

But they were outnumbered by thousands of pro-Chinese demonstrators sporting hats, T-shirts and flags.

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