China’s President Xi Jinping to make first state visit to Britain in October
News of mainland leader's trip from October 20 to 23 comes a week after British finance minister George Osborne's visit to China to strengthen economic and financial ties
President Xi Jinping will make his first state visit to Britain next month, the British government said on Tuesday – 10 years after the last such visit by a Chinese president.
The news of Xi’s October 20 to 23 visit comes a week after British finance minister George Osborne visited China to strengthen economic and financial ties.
READ MORE: China praises Britain’s George Osborne for silence on human rights during Xinjiang visit
Despite disagreements over human rights and the former British colony of Hong Kong, China values Britain’s staunch defence of free trade and lack of obstacles to investing in Britain.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, would be staying at Buckingham Palace, the palace said in a statement, according to an email from the British embassy in Beijing.
The last Chinese head of state to visit Britain was President Hu Jintao in 2005.
