Mr. Wen's trip to Britain came as two prominent Chinese dissidents, Hu Jia and artist Ai Weiwei, were released from prison. Both have been warned by the authorities that they face further punishment unless they stay silent.

Following his meeting with Mr. Cameron on Monday, the Chinese leader will travel to Germany, where German officials say the issue of human rights will be discussed during a Cabinet meeting.

China is demonstrating a growing interest in Europe, but Beijing's human rights record remains an important issue for European leaders. The Chinese government has faced fierce criticism for cracking down on dissidents and investing in African countries with authoritarian governments.