Chinese vice president to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral

Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday after an official Chinese delegation was denied the right to pray in front of the coffin of the late sovereign.

« At the invitation of the British government, President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Vice President Wang Qishan, will attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral to be held in London on September 19, » said spokesperson Mao Ning. from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press release.

Some 2000 guests, including several hundred world leaders, crowned heads, but also anonymous people decorated for their associative commitment, will attend the ceremony.

Mr. Wang’s presence was announced after Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle banned an official delegation sent by Beijing from entering the precincts of Parliament where the Queen’s coffin rests.

It is on display in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the British Parliament.

This affront follows the sanctions taken by China against British parliamentarians who had criticized its human rights record.

At a press briefing in London on Friday, Mao said the UK « should show both diplomatic courtesy and a warm welcome ».