Cameron pushes democracy in China speech

The Prime Minister admitted the UK and China have “different perspectives” on human rights and democracy but suggested Beijing embrace a “greater political opening”.

“The rise in economic freedom in China in recent years has been hugely beneficial to China and to the world.

“I hope that in time this will lead to a greater political opening, because I am convinced that the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together.”

“I hope that in time this will lead to a greater political opening, because I am convinced that the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together.” David Cameron

Mr Cameron stressed it was “a speech, not a lecture”, telling the students at Peking University that he was not sugegsting the UK has any “moral superiority” over China.

“I recognise that we approach these issues with different perspectives.

“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. I realise this presents challenges of a different order of magnitude,” he said.

Forget the Gold Standard, this is the Rise of the Redback
Look at your keyboards. Somewhere between the 3 and the 5 keys, expect a change: the appearance of the ¥ (yen sign) in addition to the £, $ and € signs, writes Economics Edtior Faisal Islam.

This is the conclusion I draw from the truly incredible outbreak of international economic discord in the run-up to this week's Seoul G20. I am beginning to wonder if we are at a profound historical turning point in world economics.

Read more on the economics blog

While he acknowledged Britain is “not pefect”, he insisted “the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together.”

He said China could no longer avoid being involved in important global issues including climate change.

“China has attempted to void entanglement in global affairs in the past.

“But China’s size and global reach means this is no longer possible.

“China is too big and too important not to play its part.”

Cameron's cautious speech in China
David Cameron responded carefully to questions on communism, writes Gary Gibbon
Would you like to give the Communist Party in China some advice on getting more openness,David Cameron was asked by a student at Peking University after his speech. There was nervous laughter and a bit of an intake of breath.

David Cameron chose not to go near that question with a bargepole. In his answer he said we do democracy, it works for us, you have your traditions. (The student high-tailed it out of the hall straight after the session saying he couldn't talk to the media.)

In his speech, David Cameron did engage with the big issue of the G20 summit and the global conversation or row on economics. He said he believed China was a force for good economically but the rest of the world needed some convincing and China could help him with that. 

Read more

Mr Cameron’s speech came on the last day of his trade delegation to China alongside 43 business leaders and four Cabinet Ministers. More than £1bn worth of deals have been secured on the visit.

The Prime Minister also raised the issue of human rights during talks with premier Wen Jiabao.

Mr Cameron also took time out from official business during his visit to Beijing today to take a trip to the Great Wall of China, where he climbed a section at Juyong Pass, north of Beijing. Signing his name in the visitors’ book, the PM said the visit was a “memorable” experience he would never forget.