Reuters/London

Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday hailed the “bright future” of closer relations with Britain, addressing lawmakers as part of a pomp-laden visit during which more than $46bn of deals are expected to be signed.
Britain rolled out the red carpet for Xi, who was honoured with a 41-gun salute and given a ride in a gilded carriage with Queen Elizabeth before addressing lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament.
A few dozen protesters calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to raise human rights with Xi were outnumbered by the thousands of China supporters thronging The Mall, one of London’s most famous avenues, as Xi rode with the Queen for a private lunch.
“China-UK relations will certainly embrace an even brighter future,” Xi, 62, told assembled lawmakers including Cameron and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. His words were translated into English.
“It is fair to say that China and the UK are increasingly interdependent and are becoming a community of shared interests,” said Xi, who quoted Chinese proverbs, William Shakespeare and English statesman Francis Bacon in his speech.
Xi’s welcome was steeped in pageantry, underlining the growing importance of China to Britain: Cameron hopes the visit will cement a lucrative place for Britain as Beijing’s closest friend in the West.
Hailed as the start of a “golden era” in Sino-British relations, the visit, which will seal £30bn in deals, has been criticised by activists who accuse Cameron of turning a blind eye to rights abuses.
It has also ruffled feathers among some of Britain’s traditional allies, such as the US, where Xi’s visit last month was tainted by friction over cyber-theft and Beijing’s moves in Asian maritime disputes.
Police made sure the few dozen protesters had little chance of disrupting a carefully choreographed ceremony which included Xi accompanying the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen’s husband, to inspect the guard of honour before leading the procession.
Those protesting against China’s human rights record were kept far from the procession, with their banners all but eclipsed by “I love China” flags.
Shouting “Don’t trade away human rights” and “China: Buying UK’s silence on Tibet”, protesters expressed support for the Falun Gong, the spiritual sect banned as a cult in China, and called for independence for the people of Tibet.
Others took aim at what they called Xi’s crackdown on civil liberties since he took power in 2012. The visit “shows that England is not giving a damn about human rights”, said Aisha Nahmmacher, 24, from south London.
But they were drowned out by supporters who banged drums and held portraits of Xi as they took photographs outside Buckingham Palace, where Xi and his wife will stay as guests of the Queen.