Wen Jiabao is to make his first visit to Downing Street as premier

It will be the Chinese leader's first visit to Downing Street since taking office last year.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said questions about human rights could be raised, but in the context of a "mature relationship" between the countries.

A previous visit by a Chinese leader to Mr Blair five years ago was marked by human rights protests.

The 1999 visit to London by Chinese president Jiang Zemin's had sparked complaints that the police had been too heavy-handed with demonstrators.

The protestors had been challenging China's human rights record, particularly in Tibet.

Dialogue

Mr Wen, who is visiting London as part of a European tour, will also be meeting the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Mr Blair met the Chinese premier in Beijing last July, when they discussed issues including North Korea's nuclear programme and democracy in Hong Kong.

China is also becoming an increasingly significant export market.

On the question of whether there would be discussions over Tibet, the Downing Street spokeswoman said: "We have got differences but this is a mature relationship we have with the Chinese government and we can have a dialogue about this."

In response, the Tibet Society said that Mr Blair should meet the Dalai Lama when he visits London later this month.

On Friday, Mr Wen called on the European Union to lift restrictions on arms sales to China, as he made his first official visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Mr Wen called on the EU to confirm market economy status on China - a move that would recognise the changes to the country's business environment.