Release International comments on Britain's relationship with China.

Beijing human rights lawyer Zhang Kai

As Britain prepares to afford full state honours to the Chinese President this week, Release International says China must be held to account over religious persecution - including the disappearance and torture of Christian human rights lawyers.

Chancellor George Osborne has urged Britain and China to stick together and create a golden decade. 'But for decades, life has been anything but golden for many of China's Christians,' says Paul Robinson, the Chief Executive of Release International, which speaks up for persecuted Christians around the world.

'Right now, one of China's most prominent Christian human rights lawyers is being held illegally in a "black jail" on possible spying charges and denied any legal representation. Zhang Kai's crime? Offering legal advice to churches whose crosses are being torn down by the thousand as China continues to persecute its Christian minority.

'The one question for David Cameron when he meets President Xi Jinping must be: 'If you really care about human rights - when will you release Zhang Kai? It's deeply worrying to see China rounding up its lawyers, and claiming it is doing so to uphold the rule of law.'

China's Ambassador to London, Liu Xiaoming, told the Andrew Marr show at the weekend that President Xi would be coming to the UK 'for cooperation, for partnership, not for a debate about human rights.'

'But that debate has to take place when China is jailing and torturing its lawyers, demolishing churches, and driving Christians to worship underground,' says Paul Robinson.

'And let's not forget that lawyers like Zhang Kai, who love their country, and simply want to use the law of the land to contest the legality of church demolitions are being treated like enemies of the state.

'Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming insisted at the weekend: "No-one will be put behind bars simply because they are criticising the government." He said they were jailed because they were criminals or wanted to overthrow the government.

'And that's the problem for China: that those who question the authorities are slapped down for being enemies of the state.

'The Ambassador urged us not to miss the big picture. Well, the UK must not be so greedy for gain that we turn a blind eye to persecution. David Cameron and George Osborne have a golden opportunity to influence China for good - to call for religious freedom. And the world is watching to see they use that opportunity.

'As a growing world power, China should embrace, rather than oppose, those who stand up for justice and righteousness under the law.'