President Hu leaves for European visit
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-08 16:08

Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing for a three-nation European tour in which the European Union's 16-year-old arms embargo and trade issues are likely to dominate talks.

Hu will first meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London before holding talks with incoming German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin followed by a trip to Madrid, from November 13 to 15, where he will meet with King Juan Carlos and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Economic issues beyond the textile row are also likely to dominate Hu's visits -- his first trips to those countries since becoming president three years ago.

Hu will then travel to South Korea for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders' summit on November 18 and 19.

Blair said in London that discussions would focus on "economic relations between our two countries, which are growing."

"We'll discuss the current security preoccupations in the world and how we can cooperate better on the (UN) Security Council," where Britain and China both have permanent seats, he said.

"We'll discuss issues to do with climate change" after China took part "very constructively" in a dialogue in London last week between the Group of Eight industrialised powers and five leading developing nations.

Blair added that his one-on-one talks Wednesday with Hu will "give me an opportunity also to hear from the president how economic and political developments are progressing in China."

With Britain holding the rotating EU presidency, political analysts expect Hu to press hard for the lifting of a European arms embargo on China. EU leaders initially pledged to remove the ban by June this year.

Hu is visiting London as the personal guest of Queen Elizabeth II, who will treat him to a gala welcome to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, followed later in the day with a state banquet.