Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is asking Britain's Cambridge University to pardon a student who threw a shoe at him during his Feb. 2 speech there.

"It is hoped that the university will give the student an opportunity to continue his studies at the university," Wen was quoted as saying Feb. 9 by China's ambassador in London, Fu Ying, in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's Web site. "It is hoped that this student will see his mistake, and seek to understand a real and developing China," Wen added.

The student was arrested by Cambridge police following the incident and questioned on suspicion of committing a public order offense. The man was identified as Martin Jahnke, a 27-year-old pathology student from Germany.

Jahnke's motivations are not clear, though he punctuated his throw by shouting: "How can this university prostitute itself with this dictator here? How can you listen … to him unchallenged?"

A calm and collected Wen continued with his speech after the protester was removed.