Free Trade and Falun Gong Intersect At Parliament
Thursday, 6 April 2006, 2:21 pm
Article: Kevin List
Free Trade and Falun Gong Intersect At
Parliament
The
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao answering questions from the NZ
and Chinese
media*********This
morning the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Mr
Wen Jiabao, and a delegation of Ministers and officials from
China visited Parliament. Mr Jiabao discussed trade and
legal issues with the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark
and later answered questions from the New Zealand and
Chinese media.
Prior to Mr Jiabao's arrival a small
group of protestors, many associated with the Falun Gong
movement, gathered to make a protest about the way their
colleagues in China are treated.
Green MP's Sue Kedgley
and Keith Locke also attempted to draw attention to the
plight of Tibet by waving a large colourful flag of Tibet on
Parliament's forecourt. Green Party Co-leader Jeanette
Fitzsimons later arrived to support her colleagues. It is
unlikely Mr Jiabao took much notice of the protest as his
motorcade swooped into Parliament like a fast flying eagle
that's spotted a juicy free trade agreement.
Green MPs
Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke prepare to delight the Chinese
Premier with a colourful flag of
Tibet*********
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
Falun Gong
protestors********* Those who
turned up to welcome the Chinese Premier slightly
outnumbered those who wished to make their voices heard in a
democratic
protest******** Possibly
the youngest protestor to turn up and exercise their
democratic
rights********* The
Chinese Premier arrived in style and was whisked up
Parliament's steps possibly not even catching a glimpse of
the well wishers and those not so keen to wish him
well********* Later a
mass scrum of New Zealand and Chinese media assembled to
hear the NZ Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier discuss
human rights and free trade
agreements********* Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao and NZ Prime Minister Helen
Clark*********ENDS
© Scoop Media
Are you licensed for Scoop?
Scoop is free for personal use, but you’ll need a licence for work use. This is part of our Ethical Paywall and how we fund Scoop without a regular paywall. Join today with plans starting from just $11 per month, and start using Scoop like a Pro.
Join Pro Individual
Find out more