Chinese President Xi Jinping will go on with his first state visit to Britain later this year amid political  tensions between the two nations over the precarious situation in Hong Kong,  barely a month after pro-democracy protests ended with China not giving in to the protesters' demands.

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Hugo Swire, Britain's junior Foreign Office Minister, announced the visit to the Parliament last Tuesday after being criticized by lawmakers for not summoning the Chinese Ambassador following China's refusal to allow them to visit its former colony last year.

It will be recalled that China refused to issue Hong Kong visas to British lawmakers at the height of the protest rallies last year as it accused Britain of meddling with China's internal affairs and allegedly was behind the 'foreign forces'  out to destabilize Hong Kong.

The British lawmakers accused the Foreign Office for  not standing up to Beijing and that London was reluctant to confront China over Hong Kong.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have been strained after members of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee were prevented from visiting Hong Kong as part of its inquiry into the protesters' demand for a greater democracy last year.

Members of the Parliament lambasted the British government for not taking up the cudgels for them in what they called a blatant insult to not only the lawmakers but to Britain as a whole.

"How much more offensive does the Chinese government need to be before we say I think we need to summon them," Richard Ottaway, the committee's chairman, asked Swire.

Swire defended his actions and said he had spoken with the Chinese ambassador about the issue and many other aspects of the Sino-British relations which included Prince William's visit and President Xi Jinping's  state visit later this year.

Swire added that he had been to China last week and again raised the issue to the Chinese Foreign Minister. He said there was no need to summon the Chinese Ambassador.

The Parliament said Britain did not show enough support to the pro-democracy protesters saying that it was more concerned with its business interests with China.

Swire refuted the Parliament's statements saying that although he was concerned with the state of the freedom of the press and the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong, Britain's  relations with China is still very much intact and balanced.

The Foreign Officer said improving its bilateral relations with China does not mean that they are being subservient to China's wishes and commands.

Swire said the Parliament should understand that the two nations have different cultures and it is imperative to show respect to one another.

TagsBritish Paliament, State Visit, hong kong protests