The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, will raise concerns about China's human rights record during President Jiang Zemin visit this week.
Protesters demanding a free Tibet and the release of jailed Chinese dissidents have promised to hold demonstrations during the British visit, which officially begins today and lasts until Friday. The Chinese leader afterwards will visit Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.
But the British visit is being seen by officials as an opportunity to improve Anglo-Sino relations, which have been cool since the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during NATO's Kosovo campaign.