 Wen Jiaboa, the Chinese prime minister, will hold talks with David Cameron and other ministers today. Our concerns with human rights in the world's second biggest economy will doubtless be raised. Beijing's decision to release ai Weiwei, the dissident Chinese artist, and Hua Jia, another prominent human rights activists, to coincide with the visit makes such a discussion inevitable.  But the release of the two dissidents suggests that China's rulers are not wholly insensitive to western opinion on this issue. However, that should not lead the West into the mistake of thinking that hectoring the Chinese on human rights is anything other than counter-productive. This is a regime that will instinctively kick back against such outside pressure. and the more powerful it becomes economically, the harder that kick will be. This was recognised by Hillary Clinton when she made her first visit to Beijing as Secretary of State and insisted that human rights "can't interfere" with issues such as the economy, climate change and security.  Mrs Clinton was right and it makes sense for this country to adopt a similarly realistic posture. The big topics that should dominate today's discussions are trade, the plight of the euro and the global economic recovery. In addition, China can be an important partner in the global battle against terrorism. It has its own experience of Islamic fundamentalism and could prove a crucial ally in the years ahead.  These are the issues that should define our future relations with this economic powerhouse. It is all too aware of our distaste for its harsh treatment of dissent but that should not be allowed to get in the way of a close and constructive relationship that works to the benefit of both countries.