Britain is an "old, declining empire" which resorts to "eccentric acts" to hide its embarrassment over its declining power, an official Chinese newspaper has claimed on the second day of a visit by the country's premier, Li Keqiang, to London.

As China was given the chance to take a decisive stake in the next stage of Britain's energy and transport infrastructure on the first day of the premier's visit, the Global Times said a "rising" country such as China should seek to understand a declining power.

The paper, which is owned by the official Communist party People's Daily, took a swipe at Britain after reports last week that Beijing had threatened to call off Li's visit if he were not allowed to meet the Queen. The premier and his wifebegan their visit on Tuesday with an audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle.

The Global Times wrote of the reports of a Chinese threat to cancel Li's visit: "Diplomats might break out into laughter at such rhetoric. This hype only serves to reflect the narrow-mindedness of the British media and even the whole of its society. The once-powerful British empire must now resort to such trickery to manifest its pride."

The official newspaper added: "Perhaps Chinese people should forgive Britain's confusing sentiment. A rising country should understand the embarrassment of an old declining empire and at times the eccentric acts it takes to hide such embarrassment. Diplomacy has to be based on realistic recognition of the two countries' power. No matter for China or the UK, it will be