President George W. Bush was expected to criticise China’s record on human rights and religious freedom on Thursday as he prepared to travel to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

In prepared remarks for delivery in Thailand on Thursday, Mr Bush welcomes the improved “constructive” relationship between the US and China on trade, economics, counter-proliferation and relations with Taiwan. But he stresses concerns about civil rights, saying the US “believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings”.