Li with David Cameroon
Chinese Premier
Li Keqiang is returning after a six-day
trip to Britain and Greece that infused fresh vigour into China's ties and cooperation with the two
countries and with Europe as a whole. In Greece, Li met
separately with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Antonis
Samaras and Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis. He also
addressed the China-Greece Maritime Cooperation Forum, expounding China's views
on maritime affairs.
British and
Chinese companies signed trade and investment deals worth some £14 billion
($23.8 billion) as Premier Li Keqiang continued a three-day visit to the U.K. to bolster
business ties between the two nations. The 20-year agreement will see 1.5
million tons of LNG shipped to China
each year from 2019, BP said in a statement. The contract with the U.K.’s second-largest energy producer shows China’s appetite hasn’t been sated by a $400
billion pipeline deal it made with Russia last month. Royal Dutch
Shell Plc also signed a strategic alliance agreement. Deals from energy to
finance totaling $30 billion were
announced, according to China’s
embassy in London.
For its part, Britain
said it will make it easier for Chinese visitors to apply for visas. Home
Secretary Theresa May announced easier forms for visa applicants from China and an agreement to allow travelers from China or India
to come to the U.K.
on an Irish visa.
Cameron
visited China in December
for the first time in three years, and was greeted with an editorial in the
state-run Global Times newspaper stating that Britain “is just an old European country
apt for travel and study.” In 2012, he was told he had “seriously damaged”
relations by meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Mr. Li, who arrived in London
, began his official engagements with an audience with Queen Elizabeth II in
her Windsor Castle residence. He then held talks
with Prime Minister David Cameron and took part in the annual U.K.-China
summit—a meeting of ministers from both countries, followed by a lunch with
businesspeople. However, after receiving the plans for Mr Li’s arrival, Beijing
registered a complaint with Downing St -because the red
carpet being rolled out for the Chinese head of government at Heathrow
airport was not up to scratch. A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route
taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent
decades been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events.
the guard of honor for Mr Li
When the Chinese
premier visited London this week he was greeted
with an honor guard, a Downing Street
reception and a meeting with the Queen. But one aspect of Li Keqiang’s welcome
fell somewhat short in the eyes of Chinese officials – the red carpet rolled
out for his arrival at Heathrow. After plans for Mr Li’s visit were shown to
the Beijing
government, aides complained that the carpet leading from the steps of his
plane was not long enough. They saw a diagram of the arrangements at Heathrow
and complained that the carpet was three metres too short,’ said one of the
visit organisers. The objection was raised with Ed Llewellyn, the Prime
Minister’s chief of staff, but he is said to have told the Chinese official he
had other things to worry about. Mr Li is said to have demanded to meet the
Queen, who welcomed him to Windsor
Castle, despite the fact
that it is relatively unusual for her to receive world leaders who are not
heads of state.
So, Chinese saw red because the carpet rolled out at Heathrow for
Premier Li was 10ft too short……. China’s Foreign Ministry yesterday
played down the diplomatic row over the length of the red carpet. The demanding requirement was perhaps surprising
considering in December 2012 the current Chinese administration banned red
carpets, welcome banners, floral arrangements and grand receptions for Chinese
officials traveling domestically on official business.
In
Aug 2012, in a ghastly fire accident in a coach of Tamilnadu Express near Nellore more than 30
lives were lost. Railway Minister Mukul Roy – had to visit the spot but did so
very reluctantly. More than 12 hours
after the horrific train blaze, the Minister was still in Kolkatta citing poor
connectivity to Nellore.
From Nellore,
he reached Chennai in a plush luxurious train coach. The New Indian Express reported of the royal
treatment that Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy received after he arrived from Nellore in a special “luxury”
train. It states that, the most
important scene was played out when a worker brought a special doormat, which
the guards claimed was made of wool, and placed it just beneath the door for
the minister to step on as he exited the compartment.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24th June 2014.
