Blair questions human rights in China
There is an “unstoppable momentum” towards greater political freedom and progress in human rights in China, Tony Blair said today.
Speaking following two days of talks with Chinese premier Wen Jiaboao in Beijing, the prime minister urged him to use his country’s economic success to meet the needs of his people.
It is estimated that Britain’s trade with China could be worth about £21.7 billion by 2010, and Mr Blair’s visit was designed to improve relations on this front. This morning, a £815 million deal to buy Airbus planes was announced.
However, concern remains over dealing with a state that has a questionable human rights record. The prime minister said he and Mr Wen had engaged in “full, open, frank and constructive” discussions on a range of issues, including democracy and human rights.
“What we want to see is the development of human rights and greater democracy, not just because it is our system but because we think that’s the best way that economic and political development go hand in hand,” he said.
Mr Wen had acknowledged political change must accompany economic growth, Mr Blair said, adding: “There was no desire to escape this topic. There was a genuine sense of engagement.”
He continued: “It’s not that people resent China, but they’ve got a question mark because they see an economic powerhouse and ask, ‘Will this developing economy be matched by political development and in the field of human rights?’
“His answer to me was that China faced enormous challenges because you have got a relatively wealthy part of China but many, many poor people.
“Their economic development has a long way to go but they recognise that political development can accompany that, but we shall have to see how that goes.”
Mr Blair is now flying to India for two-day summit talks with prime minister Manmohan Singh, where trade will once again be high on the agenda.
