AAP

September 03, 2007 11:00am

PREMIER Alan Carpenter should have the courage to raise human rights issues with China's president when he visits WA today, an exiled Tibetan leader in WA says.

President Hu Jintao is due to arrive in Perth today to meet key business, mining and government representatives ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney.

President Hu will begin his 24-hour visit to WA with a state dinner tonight at a hotel with key WA business, mining and government representatives.

Zatul Rinpoche, leader of the Tibetan community in WA and former Tibetan MP in exile, said Australia's business relationship with China was important but human rights issues could not be ignored.

"I have a great respect for Alan Carpenter ... but I think he should have also the courage to address things like this,'' Mr Zatul said.

WA Greens MLC Giz Watson said Mr Carpenter had told her he would not raise human rights with the Chinese leader.

"It's not OK to talk just about trade and the dollars, it's very important that public leaders raise issues of social justice and human rights,'' Ms Watson said.

Mr Zatul said discussing human rights with President Hu would not damage the bilateral relationship.

"I guess they have some concerns about the business relationship, but that's wrong because I'm definitely sure that if they raised human rights issues the business relationship will not get worse because Australia needs China and China needs Australia.''

Falun Gong protesters say they will hold a candlelight vigil outside tonight's state dinner to protest what they say are human rights abuses against Falun Gong followers in China.

President Hu is expected to tour resource-based sites tomorrow before heading to Sydney.

Two-way trade between WA and China is worth more than $15.3 billion a year and exports from WA to China are worth more $13.8 billion.