Union leader says he was barred from China

Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson says the Chinese government has refused him entry to the country.

Mr Wilson was to attend an OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) seminar in Beijing next week with union leaders from 20 countries, representatives of 25 foreign governments and 15 foreign investors.

But a decision was made at the "highest political level in China" to cancel the meeting and invalidate all participants visas, citing "inappropriate and inconvenient timing", Mr Wilson said today.

He heard the decision yesterday in Japan where he is attending an international union meeting, a spokeswoman for Mr Wilson told NZPA today.

Those at the meeting were to have discussed working conditions, union recognition and health and safety.

New Zealand officials began yesterday in China for a free trade agreement between the countries.

"The seminar was only going to talk about guidelines for foreign companies in China, so this action by the Chinese government raises serious questions as to whether they are willing to even discuss labour standards," he said.

"It appears that the position of the Chinese government is that there should be no constraints or standards for any company operating in China," he said in a statement.

The move also stopped Mr Wilson's planned meeting with Chinese counterparts.

A spokeswoman for Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton told NZPA today the ministry was looking into Mr Wilson's claims.

The Green Party today called on the Government to call off the trade talks after Mr Wilson's visa was cancelled.

Greens co-leader Rod Donald said today China's decision was "tantamount to a gagging order".

"It is meaningless for the Government to say it intends to discuss labour and environmental standards in trade talks with China when the regime refuses to allow union leaders from OECD countries...to talk about those very issues," Mr Donald said in a statement.

Mr Donald has sought permission from the Speaker of the House to ask Prime Minister Helen Clark an urgent question on the matter in Parliament.

- NZPA