PHOTO OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING

Greens to challenge Chinese politician over Tibet

Green Co-Leader Rod Donald will "welcome" the second most-important Chinese politician this morning with the flag of Tibet, a territory that China continues to occupy and oppress.

Mr Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress and second only to Chinese President Hu Jintao, is arriving in New Zealand this evening for a four-day visit.

"It's important that Mr Wu Bangguo knows that Kiwis are deeply concerned about his government's human rights abuses both in Tibet and on the Chinese mainland," Green Co-Leader Rod Donald said.

"We're calling on Chinese Government to enter into constructive negotiations with the Dalai Lama on the status of Tibet. We're deeply concerned about widespread human rights abuses there."

Mr Donald said the Greens were asking China both to release all the Tibetan political prisoners it's holding and to commit immediately to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"It's time for Tibet to be opened up to international human rights organisations so that an full picture of the Chinese Government's human rights record in the territory can be drawn.

"We're equally concerned about the millions of Chinese citizens being incarcerated in forced labour camps."

WHAT: Rod Donald to "welcome" Mr Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, with the Tibetan flag.

WHEN: Today, 9:45am.

WHERE: In front of Parliament.

ENDS

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