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David Cameron lectures China on value of democracy

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David Cameron risked provoking a diplomatic row with China today by making a speech on the benefits of democracy, media freedom and an independent judiciary.

By Andrew Porter, Political Editor in Beijing

The Prime Minister implicitly criticised the Chinese regime by heaping praise on the openness of British democracy, which he said makes the country “stronger” and the Government “better”. (Watch Video)

The comments, which are unprecedented in their directness from a British prime minister speaking in China, are likely to infuriate Beijing, which loathes external interference in its affairs. Mr Cameron has spent the first day of his first official visit to China prioritising the importance of trade between the countries but has come under pressure to address China’s human rights record.

Today, Mr Cameron told an audience of students that Britain has an official Opposition that has “a constitutional duty to hold the Government to account”.

He said: “Indeed, if I were not in Beijing this afternoon, I would be preparing for my weekly session of prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons, where MPs question me freely about the whole range of government policy.

“The Government is subject to the rule of law. These are constraints on the Government, and at times they can be frustrating when the courts take a view with which the Government differs. But ultimately we believe they make our government better and our country stronger.”

Mr Cameron then commented on the restrictions on the media in China, where websites are monitored and critical content removed.

He told his audience at Beida University, Beijing: “Through the media, the public get to hear directly from people who hold different views from the Government. That can be difficult at times, too.

“But we believe that the better informed the British public is about the issues affecting our society, the easier it is, ultimately, for the British Government to come to sensible decisions and to develop robust policies that command the confidence of our people.”

Three years ago, Mr Cameron issued a milder rebuke but still incurred stinging criticism from Communist party sources, with one calling him “arrogant”.

Fearing that he will incur a similar dressing-down, Mr Cameron said in his speech that he did not claim any “moral superiority”.

He said: “I understand too that being in government is a huge challenge. I’m finding that running a country of 60 million people. So I can only begin to imagine what it is like leading a country of 1.3 billion.” But he will add: “I am convinced that the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together.”

Downing Street suggested Mr Cameron’s rhetoric took to “another level” the push for greater political freedom in China. Neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown ever spoke in such forthright terms when visiting China. But critics will say that his words will have little practical impact.

The speech was made amid international condemnation of China over the imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo, the political dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has been jailed for 11 years. Mr Cameron held talks with Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, yesterday and referred to human rights issues. Later at a banquet, he was expected specifically to mention Mr Liu. The Prime Minister is also planning to raise the case today with Hu Jintao, China’s President.

Yesterday, Mo Shaoping, Mr Liu’s lawyer, was stopped from boarding a plane to London. Chinese authorities said they were acting in the interests of state security, but their actions highlight the regime’s scant regard for British views on human rights.

Mr Mo told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that “no country should avoid talking about human rights with China in order to boost their economic interests”.

Yesterday, Mr Cameron, who is leading a trade delegation, was able to claim success when Rolls Royce announced a £750 million deal with Chinese Eastern Airlines. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, will today announce a programme to train 1,000 new Chinese language teachers in England.

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