Brown to raise human rights with China

Gordon Brown will raise China's record on human rights when he meets the country's leaders this week.

The Prime Minister is on his way to Beijing to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Mr Brown said: "I want to say that human rights matters to us every year, not just in the Olympic year."

In a public letter to opposition Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who questioned Mr Brown's attendance at the Olympics on human rights grounds, the Prime Minister said supporting China's "re-engagement" in the world is in Britain's national interest.

He wrote: "Support for the Games and engagement with China is not at the expense of human rights.

"It is integral to their promotion. China has made enormous social and economic progress over the last three decades, but much more remains to be done."

The letter continued: "I firmly believe that allowing China's citizens to enjoy freedom of expression and association; to worship how and where they wish; and to live in confidence that the rule of law will be applied consistently and impartially is not only the right thing to do but will also benefit China's future stability and prosperity, which is in all our interests."

Mr Brown also gave an interview to Xinhua News Agency in which he urged China to continue with press and other freedoms after the Olympics, including in terms of its relationship with Tibet.

He said: "The human rights of all those in Tibet should be fully respected. Our consistent position is that the way to resolve the issues highlighted by the disturbances in March is through dialogue, not violence."

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