10 November 2005
Hu arrives in Germany
Chinese President Hu Jintao began a three-day visit to Germany to the backdrop of hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Berlin to protest against his trip. While a smaller group of Tibet supporters gathered near the Brandenburg Gate, other demonstrators, including members of the Falun Gong, held protests outside Charlottenburg Castle. Hu, who is on his first state visit to Germany, was welcomed with full military honours by German President Horst Koehler. Police said that altogether 30 protests or silent demonstrations had been registered to be held during Hu's visit. Altogether Germany and China are expected to sign deals totalling more than EUR€1.4 billion (UK£940m; US$1.6bn) during Hu’s visit. President Koehler caused controversy prior to visit because of remarks he made in a newspaper interview when, without mentioning China by name, he asked business leaders to refrain from signing deals with countries with poor human rights records.