Europeans pledge to press Wen Jiabao on rights after Hu Jia release

European leaders have welcomed the release of Chinese dissident Hu Jia but pledged to press Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on human rights during his visit to the continent.

Reuters/Handout

European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Sunday welcomed the release of Hu, who had finished a three-year jail term on subversion. But she added that he must be given “full rights” in the light of the travel restrictions on artist Ai Weiwei, who was freed last week after nearly three months in police custody.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle pledged to press China on rights issues, including the conditions of Ai’s release, during a joint cabinet meeting which the Chinese will attend this week.

Wen is travelling with 13 ministers and a large business delegation.

Bilateral trade between the two countries was 130 billion euros in 2010. Westerwelle told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that there was “no contradiction” between trade and frank discussion.

Hu, who is a long-time campaigner on civil rights, the environment and the conditions of people with Aids, was jailed for "incitement to subvert state power" ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He had written a series of articles criticising the Chinese

government on the state of human rights in China.

Wen arrived in Britain late Saturday and was due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron and attend the annual UK-China summit on Monday.

He arrives in Germany Monday evening and will meet Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday.