State Banquet
Chinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to Britain. Tuesday October 20, 2015. Reuters/Dominic Lipinski

Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed with both pomp and protest on Tuesday upon his visit to the Buckingham Palace. Xi hailed the Asian nation’s “brighter future” with Britain. The Chinese leader’s visit to Britain is expected to seal more than US$46 billion (AU$63.25billion) deal between the two countries. The visit, however, drew numerous protest from rights advocates.

Xi was welcomed with a 41-gun salute before heading to the Buckingham Palace in a gilded carriage with Queen Elizabeth. Britain laid down a red carpet for the Chinese leader.

At the state banquet, Queen Elizabeth described the country’s relationship with China as something that should reach ambitious new heights and that the leader’s visit is considered a defining moment in this year, Reuters reports.

British Prime Minister David Cameron hoped to attain a lucrative place for Britain as China’s closest friend in the West. Along with that, Cameron hoped to win investment in infrastructure, nuclear power and in the government’s transformation of northern England.

Despite describing Xi’s visit to Britain as the “golden era” of Sino-British ties, the visit has been criticised by human rights activists. Cameron was criticised for turning a blind eye to rights abuses, and crackdown on civil liberties were made. Friction over China’s cyber-theft and its moves in Asian maritime disputes were also brought up.

Xi, however, did not pay attention to criticisms. Instead, he told lawmakers via his translator that by working together, both countries can “surely embrace an even brighter future.” He also said that the visit will allow the friendship of both countries to ascend to new heights.

In the state banquet, Xi was quoted saying that “a growing China-UK relationship benefits both countries and the world as a whole.”

Xi’s four-day-visit to Britain will include a city summit, details of London’s role in Beijing financial plans and a royal banquet.

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