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| Chinese PM Wen Jiabao supports euro ahead of UK summit | Chinese PM Wen Jiabao supports euro ahead of UK summit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has said his country will support the euro, ahead of a three-day summit in Britain. | China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has said his country will support the euro, ahead of a three-day summit in Britain. |
| Before arriving, Mr Wen said China had increased its holdings of euro bonds in recent years and was confident the eurozone could overcome its problems. | Before arriving, Mr Wen said China had increased its holdings of euro bonds in recent years and was confident the eurozone could overcome its problems. |
| Mr Wen has visited Stratford-upon-Avon for a Shakespeare show and is due to visit the Chinese-owned MG car plant at Longbridge, in Birmingham. | |
| On Monday he will attend the UK-China Strategic Summit and meet the UK PM. | On Monday he will attend the UK-China Strategic Summit and meet the UK PM. |
| Business deals are expected to be announced at the annual UK-China Summit, which will involve David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor George Osborne. | Business deals are expected to be announced at the annual UK-China Summit, which will involve David Cameron, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor George Osborne. |
| Mr Wen will also hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and business leaders, before leaving for Germany on Monday. | Mr Wen will also hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and business leaders, before leaving for Germany on Monday. |
| Debt crisis | Debt crisis |
| On Sunday he visited Stratford-upon-Avon and watched a short performance of Shakespeare's work on Sunday. | |
| The leader is a life-long Shakespeare fan, and said, through a translator, that the one-hour visit was "extremely worthwhile". | |
| He said local people should feel proud as Shakespeare was "a great man who belongs not only to this era, but to the entire history", adding that his comments were "from the heart". | |
| Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who accompanied Mr Wen to Stratford-Upon-Avon said: "We want to have a broad-based relationship with China which encompasses political, economic and social dialogue. It's obviously an incredibly important economic power and a massive investor in the UK. | |
| "But what this visit is about is saying that it's not just about jobs, it's also about a broader cultural relationship which is the best possible way to make sure we understand each other and avoid the kind of misunderstanding that so can bedevil relationships, as has happened in the past." | |
| Later Mr Wen will attend the launch of the MG6 Magnette, which is designed in Britain but assembled from parts manufactured in China. | |
| The Longbridge plant used to make MG Rover cars but is now owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. | The Longbridge plant used to make MG Rover cars but is now owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. |
| Mr Wen flew into Birmingham airport on Saturday night, and was met by Trade Minister Stephen Green and Britain's ambassador to Beijing Sebastian Wood, the Foreign Office said. | Mr Wen flew into Birmingham airport on Saturday night, and was met by Trade Minister Stephen Green and Britain's ambassador to Beijing Sebastian Wood, the Foreign Office said. |
| He had come from Hungary, where he was asked about the debt crisis in Europe, and especially the situation in Greece. | He had come from Hungary, where he was asked about the debt crisis in Europe, and especially the situation in Greece. |
| "China will consistently support Europe and the euro," Mr Wen said. | "China will consistently support Europe and the euro," Mr Wen said. |
| "Europe's debt crisis is expanding. Trust is more important than currency and gold and now, during the debt crisis, we again bring trust to Europe. | "Europe's debt crisis is expanding. Trust is more important than currency and gold and now, during the debt crisis, we again bring trust to Europe. |
| "I have total trust in Europe's economic development," he added. | "I have total trust in Europe's economic development," he added. |
| Human rights concerns | Human rights concerns |
| China has foreign reserves of about $3tn and is believed to be diversifying some of its holdings from US dollars into euros and other currencies. | China has foreign reserves of about $3tn and is believed to be diversifying some of its holdings from US dollars into euros and other currencies. |
| While economic, commercial and political ties are the focus of the visit, Britain remains concerned about China's human rights record and the issue is expected to be raised in talks, says the BBC's Adam Mynott. | While economic, commercial and political ties are the focus of the visit, Britain remains concerned about China's human rights record and the issue is expected to be raised in talks, says the BBC's Adam Mynott. |
| Last week dissident artist Ai Weiwei was released from custody in China, heading off protests which might have greeted Mr Wen's visit to Britain. | Last week dissident artist Ai Weiwei was released from custody in China, heading off protests which might have greeted Mr Wen's visit to Britain. |
| On Saturday news broke that another prominent Chinese dissident, Hu Jia, had been released from prison and reunited with his family. | On Saturday news broke that another prominent Chinese dissident, Hu Jia, had been released from prison and reunited with his family. |
| He had campaigned for the environment and in support of patients with Aids. | He had campaigned for the environment and in support of patients with Aids. |
| But the Free Tibet pressure group has promised to hold demonstrations outside Downing Street when Mr Wen goes to meet Mr Cameron. | But the Free Tibet pressure group has promised to hold demonstrations outside Downing Street when Mr Wen goes to meet Mr Cameron. |
| With China having overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy, many European companies are looking for investment, while Chinese acquisitions in Europe have also been increasing. | With China having overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy, many European companies are looking for investment, while Chinese acquisitions in Europe have also been increasing. |
| Mr Wen is thought to be leading a Chinese bid for work on the HS2 high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham. | Mr Wen is thought to be leading a Chinese bid for work on the HS2 high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham. |
| Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming said last week China was looking for "flagship projects" and had "the knowledge, expertise and experience" to assist with HS2. | Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming said last week China was looking for "flagship projects" and had "the knowledge, expertise and experience" to assist with HS2. |