Chinese premier says shoe-throwing incident in Cambridge "unexpected" _English

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds an online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website and Xinhua website in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
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BEIJING, Feb 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Saturday that during his last visit to Britain, the shoe-throwing incident at the University of Cambridge was "unexpected."

A 27-year-old German student Martin Jahnke blew a whistle and hurled a sports shoe at Wen at the concert hall of Cambridge University on Feb. 2 during his speech.

"The first thing that came cross my mind was I must safeguard the national dignity and the dignity of a human being and also, I must safeguard the friendship between China and Britain," he said during his first-ever online chat with the public.

"I had a belief that even if something dangerous was hurled at me, I will not move at all," he said.

"I would do the same again if such an incident happened to me next time," he added.

Premier Wen personally picked up the question posted on the central government forum on the Cambridge incident that occurred during his visit to five European countries between Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.

"It was a trip of confidence and I think it was successful," he said Saturday.

Wen showed calmness when the shoe-throwing incident took place and told the audience: "This despicable act will not obstruct the friendship between Chinese and British peoples. Human progress and world harmony are tides of history, which can not be obstructed by any force."

Wen has, through the Chinese Embassy in London, sent a message to Cambridge, urging leniency toward the student.