While economic issues are likely to dominate, both he and David Cameron will be keen to discuss Libya

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao arrives in the UK on Saturday night for the middle stretch of a five-day European visit that began in Hungary and concludes in Germany.

The debt crisis will figure high on the agenda throughout. China has the world's largest foreign exchange holdings and, while it does not disclose their composition, has said it has bought more in European bonds.

"China is ready to continue to help European countries achieve a stable economic growth through co-operation with relevant countries," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in advance of the trip.

China's economic ascendancy will be underscored by Wen's visit to Longbridge for the launch of the MG6 Magnette car; Shanghai Automotive owns the MG Rover plant. He will also visit Stratford-upon-Avon – because of his interest in Shakespeare – before going to London for talks with the prime minister and a speech at the Royal Society.

While economic issues are likely to dominate, both he and David Cameron will be keen to discuss Libya and wider issues in the region. China has held talks with rebels and abstained from voting on UN Security Council resolution 1973, but complained about the air strikes as soon as they began.

China's decision to release the dissident artist Ai Weiwei on bail has taken one contentious case off the agenda, but the UK is still expected to raise human rights issues: the question will be whether it does so publicly or privately, and how strongly it does so.