China state visit: Human rights 'off the menu' at Buckingham Palace banquet

Chinese ambassador says Jeremy Corbyn won't raise issue at Tuesday's dinner as British people 'know how to behave'

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to the UK, speaking to 'The Andrew Marr Show'

Human rights will be firmly off the menu at the Buckingham Palace state banquet this week as the Chinese President begins his visit to Britain, his officials have insisted.

Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, said British people “know how to behave” and the topic of human rights would not be raised at the dinner on Tuesday.

His comments on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show came after a statement by Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman in which he said the Labour leader intended to use the visit to discuss human rights with President Xi Jinping.

I think British people are very gentlemanly - they know how to behave

&#13; <p>Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK</p>&#13;

Mr Liu said: “You think the Labour Party will raise this issue at a state banquet? I don’t think so. I think, you know, the President is here for co-operation, for partnership.

“He is not here for a debate about human rights. We all know that China [and the] UK differ very much, because we have a different history, different culture, we are in a different stage of development. It’s natural. We have difference, even with regard to human rights.

“I think British people are very gentlemanly … they know how to behave.”

But Mr Liu confirmed that the President will have a meeting with Mr Corbyn. Appearing on Murnaghan on Sky News, the ambassador said: “We look forward to a productive, interesting meeting between the President and Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Labour.”

Asked if he expects the pair to get on, Mr Liu added: “Socialists can debate. Socialists, capitalists can have a debate but we are here for common ground. In fact, last week I had an interesting meeting with Jeremy Corbyn to prepare for the President meeting him.”

He said the Labour Party had made “important contributions” to improving relations between Britain and China.

Mr Xi, who will arrive on Monday night for his four-day state visit beginning on Tuesday, is the first Chinese leader to visit the UK for a decade.