Premier Wen Jiabao has asked Cambridge University to forgive the student who threw a shoe at him during his speech there this month, the Chinese ambassador to the UK said on Saturday.

In a press release on the Foreign Ministry's website, Ambassador Fu Ying said: "I would like to convey the following from Premier Wen: Education is the best help for a young student. It is hoped the university will give the student an opportunity to continue his studies."

Martin Jahnke, 27, a student in pathology from Germany, threw a shoe at Premier Wen and yelled towards the end of his lecture on February 2.