The award of a European human rights prize to a jailed Chinese dissident yesterday brought condemnation from Beijing on the eve of a key summit with the EU.

The highly regarded Sakharov Prize was given to 35-year-old Hu Jia despite intense lobbying by China, which gave warning that the honour would damage relations with Europe.

Mr Hu was recognised for his campaigning for rural Aids sufferers as well as for environmental causes and selfdetermination for Tibet. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed “strong dissatisfaction at the decision by the European Parliament to give the award to a jailed criminal in China, in disregard of our repeated representations”.

Liu Jianchao, a ministry spokesman, said: “This is gross interference in China's domestic affairs. I do not believe that anyone gets anywhere by interfering in the affairs of others.” He added later that the award would not hinder today's summit with senior EU figures including President Sarkozy of France and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, which will cover issues including CO2 targets and reforming the global financial system.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, said: “By awarding the Sakharov Prize to Hu Jia, the European Parliament is sending out a clear signal of support to all those who defend human rights in China.” He said that Mr Hu had spoken out against oppression in Tibet and described him as one of the real defenders of human rights in the People's Republic of China.

In a letter sent to Mr Pöttering before the award decision, China's EU Ambassador, Song Zhe, said: “If the European Parliament should award this prize to Hu Jia, that would inevitably hurt the Chinese people once again and bring serious damage to China-EU relations.”

The Sakharov Prize, named after the Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, is in its 20th year and is worth €50,000 (£39,800). Past winners include Nelson Mandela, the former South African President, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese pro-democracy campaigner, and Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General.

Mr Hu's wife said that he was suffering in prison from cirrhosis of the liver and anaemia. Zeng Jinyan added: “I think Hu Jia would be very happy because his work has now received everyone's validation.”

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