2015 Xi Jinping visit to the United Kingdom

State Visit of Chinese Leader Xi Jinping to United Kingdom
Date October 19–23, 2015
Venue London, Manchester

The 2015 Xi Jinping United Kingdom visit, from October 19–23, 2015, was the first state visit of Xi Jinping to the United Kingdom. It also was the Chinese President's first visit to the United Kingdom since 2005 and the second Chinese state leader to visit the UK after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit between 16 and 19 June 2014. During the visit, Xi met Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron, and also visited Manchester City F.C..

Background

The vice-director of China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (中国现代国际关系研究院) Feng Zhongping said China–United Kingdom relations were warming rapidly. In March 2015 United Kingdom joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In September, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visited China. Feng said this visit would bring some better results.[1]

On the other hand, the CNN website reported that China and the UK haven't always been "best buddies" until the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. In 2012, British Prime Minister David Cameron met with the Dalai Lama.[2]

Process

October 19: Arrival at London

On October 19, 2015, Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived at Heathrow Airport and stepped off an Air China aircraft. They were greeted on behalf of the Queen by Viscount Hood and the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.[3][4]

October 20: Met Queen Elizabeth II, publish the speech and state dinner

Xi Jinping published the speech at the Palace of Westminster
Xi met with Charles, Prince of Wales

On October 20, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted the ceremony to welcome Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Horse Guards Parade. The British Royal Family was to honor Xi Jinping with a 103-gun salute (41 in Green Park, 62 at the Tower of London and City of London).[5][6][7] During this visit, supporters of Xi waved flags and banners and carried a dragon spelling out the message "Welcome Big Buddy Xi".[8] Activists of Falun Gong and Free Tibet activists convened to demonstrate against China’s human rights abuses and to call for the UK government to put human rights on the visit’s agenda.[6][9][10] The Falun Gong followers called for former chief of the Communist Party leader, Jiang Zemin, to be brought to justice for the persecution of its practitioners.[11] Before this visit, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn promised to raise human rights issues, but China ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming said this visit would focus on partnership and cooperation between the two countries.[12]

Xi and Peng had lunch with the Queen, viewed the Royal Collection’s Chinese artefacts, and exchanged gifts with the Royals, giving them two albums of Peng Liyuan’s music.[8] In the afternoon, Xi Jinping made a speech at the Palace of Westminster. He focused on historic bi-national ties, law and order, and China’s burgeoning economy in this speech. He also cited William Shakespeare from The Tempest that “what’s past is prologue”.[13] Later Xi Jinping visited the Clarence House, the residence of Prince William, and had tea with the prince. In the evening, Xi and Peng arrived for a state banquet at the Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Queen. Xi also met with the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.[8] After the banquet, Xi and Peng stayed two nights at the palace in the Belgian Suite.[14][15]

October 21: Met David Cameron, Business Summit, and visiting events

On October 21, Xi Jinping talked with British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street. At this talk, Xi and Cameron signed 400 billion pound business agreements. The British Government announced the UK will extend the standard Chinese visitor visas from six months to two years.[16] Also Merlin Entertainments signed an agreement with China Media Capital to establish a Legoland in Shanghai.[17] After the talk, they signed a cybersecurity pact at the press conference. They also talked about the issue of human rights.[18]

Xi and Cameron attended the UK-China business summit at Mansion House, where the focus was on investment, infrastructure and innovation.[16] Later Xi visited Imperial College London, Lancaster House and the London Office of Huawei, a leading Chinese telecommunications company.[16] In the evening Xi attended the banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor of London Alan Yarrow at the City of London.[16]

October 22: Visiting events and Met at Chequers

Xi continued his 4th day's itinerary on October 22. He and his wife Peng Liyuan left the Buckingham Palace.[19] Later Xi attended the Opening Ceremony of Annual Conference of UK Confucius Institutes and Classrooms with Prince Andrew. He and Prince Andrew together unveiled the plaque of the 1000th Confucius Classroom at Hautlieu School, which was hosted by Hautlieu School of Jersey and Beijing Bayi High School.[20][21]

Xi also visited Inmarsat with the Duke of York and Liu Xiaoming.[22] Peng Liyuan visited Royal Academy of Music with Prince William and his wife Kate. She also visited the Brussels Musical Instrument Museum.[23][24][25]

Later, Xi and Cameron have held talks at Chequers. Cameron was expected to raise concerns over Hong Kong directly with Xi, but there was no mention of this in the statement.[26] Cameron also takes Xi to traditional British pub for beers and fish and chips, the English traditional dish.[27] Xi left London and arrived at Manchester at 10 pm.[28]

October 23: Manchester Visit

On October 23, Xi visited Manchester. He visited the National Graphene Institute of the University of Manchester with Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, alongside George Osborne, Lord Jim O’Neill and the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, James Wharton.[29] Later Xi visited Manchester City F.C., Manchester City Football Academy and the exhibition of football history.[30] He also witnessed former Manchester City defender Sun Jihai being inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame[31] and took a selfie with Sergio Agüero.[32]

Before Xi left, he visited the Airport City Manchester project. He also announced Hainan Airlines will launch non-stop flights between Beijing and Manchester.[32]

Controversy

The British officials said that the China-UK business transactions were highly exaggerated and Britain would continue to tightly regulate the nuclear industry.[33]

In May 2016, Queen Elizabeth II was filmed making an unguarded remark that the Chinese "were very rude to the ambassador", and that it was "bad luck" for the Metropolitan police commander Lucy D’Orsi that she had to be responsible for security during the state visit.[34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "觀點：中英開創兩國關係「黃金期」". BBC Chinese. October 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ "China and UK: Signs of a new 'special relationship?'". CNN. October 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ "'Queen of China' arrives for an audience with the Queen of England: President and former pop star wife arrive in UK ahead of controversial Buckingham Palace stay". Daily Mail. October 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in UK". BBC. October 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Xi Jinping visit: UK-China ties 'will be lifted to new height'". BBC. October 20, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "China President Xi Jinping's UK tour: pomp and protest". Financial Times. October 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Why a 103-gun royal salute for President Xi?". Xinhua News Agency. October 20, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "Chinese president hosted by Queen at Buckingham Palace state banquet – as it happened". The Guardian. October 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Chinese President Xi begins 4-day visit to UK amid human rights concerns". CNN. October 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Xi Jinping's carriage ride up London's Mall runs the gauntlet of Falun Gong, Tibet and China supporters". South China Morning Post. October 20, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ Jane (October 23, 2015). "MANCHESTER GETS A WHIFF OF CHINA DURING CAMERON AND XI JINPING VISIT". Salford Star.
  12. ↑ "Chinese ambassador: we do not shy away from discussing human rights". The Guardian. October 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Chinese president Xi Jinping visits Parliament... and receives an unexpected lecture on human rights". The Telegraph. October 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Xi Jinping state banquet: The Duchess of Cambridge and her Lotus Flower tiara made from Queen Mother's jewels". The Telegraph. October 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "习近平今日抵英访问 下榻全球最贵豪宅白金汉宫". Beijing Times. October 20, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Xi Jinping signs nuclear deal as UK and China clinch £40bn of contracts". The Guardian. October 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Merlin signs deal for Chinese Legoland in Shanghai". BBC News. October 21, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Xi Jinping state visit: UK and China sign cybersecurity pact". The Guardian. October 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan Bid Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II of UK and Her Husband". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. October 23, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Xi Jinping: China has taught UK schools discipline – and learned about play". The Guardian. October 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Xi Jinping Attends the Opening Ceremony of Annual Conference of UK Confucius Institutes and Classrooms". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. October 22, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Inmarsat welcomes President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China". Inmarsat. October 22, 2015.
  23. ↑ "China's first lady Peng Liyuan strikes right chord chatting to music students, Mandarin pupils during visit to UK". South China Morning Post. October 23, 2015.
  24. ↑ "First Lady visits London's prestigious Royal College of Music". China Daily. October 23, 2015.
  25. ↑ "China's first lady Peng Liyuan, in pictures". The Telegraph. October 23, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Xi Jinping and David Cameron hold talks at Chequers". BBC News. October 23, 2015.
  27. ↑ "British PM David Cameron takes China's Xi Jinping to traditional British pub for beers, fish and chips". ABC News (Australia). October 23, 2015.
  28. ↑ "习近平同英国首相卡梅伦再次会晤". Xinhua News Agency. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  29. ↑ "China's President Xi Jinping visits the National Graphene Institute". University of Manchester. October 23, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Xi Jinping Visits Manchester City Football Academy". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. October 23, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Sun Jihai joins legendary figures in National Football Hall of Fame - er, WHAT?". The Mirror. October 23, 2015.
  32. 1 2 "Did David Cameron photobomb Sergio Aguero and China's Xi Jinping selfie?". CNN. October 23, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Britain to Grant China a Large Stake in Nuclear Industry". The New York Times. October 22, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Queen caught on camera saying Chinese officials were 'very rude'". The Guardian. May 11, 2016.
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