On September 12, 2022, Vice President Wang Qishan visited the British Embassy in China to extend condolences over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

 
At the invitation of the UK government, Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Vice President Wang Qishan will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Saturday.

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 after 70 years on the throne. The state funeral for the Queen will take place next Monday at Westminster Abbey in London. 

On September 9, President Xi sent a message of condolence to new Monarch Charles III of the UK over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. In his message, Xi said Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has won wide acclaim. Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to visit China. Her passing is a great loss to the British people.

On September 12, Vice President Wang visited the British Embassy in China to extend condolences over the passing of the Queen. 

Wang hailed the Queen as a promoter of and contributor to bilateral relations, noting that she received several visiting Chinese leaders, and made good contributions to the development of China-UK relations. Wang said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UK at the ambassadorial level; development of bilateral relations has shown that China-UK relations can remain stable and smooth so long as the two sides follow the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. 

Wang expressed the hope that the UK side will take a strategic and long-term perspective, and work with the Chinese side to strengthen dialogue and exchanges, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly meet challenges, so as to ensure sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Some British media reported on Friday that a Chinese delegation was denied the access to the parliamentary estate to pay respects to the Queen as she lies in state in Westminster Hall. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao responded on the same day by pointing out that "foreign delegations attend the activity at the invitation of the UK side to show respect to the late Queen and the importance they attach to the UK. As the host, the UK side is certainly familiar with diplomatic protocols and proper manners of receiving guests."

On Saturday, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the UK slammed the behaviour of those British parliamentarians by using the solemn occasion of the State Funeral of the Queen for their anti-China hype-up and provocation as being extremely disrespectful to the late Queen.
 
China is a country that values propriety. Such a despicable action does not deserve our comment, the spokesperson said.  
 
In addition to the State Funeral, the Chinese delegation will also attend a number of events related to official ceremonies, with the first starting on September 14. Invitees decide on which events to attend based on their respective schedules, according to the embassy.

Certain British members of parliament have no right to sway such agenda as they attempt to kidnap British diplomacy, observers noted. This voice and attitude hurt UK's own decency and grace, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Global Times