Blair senses sea change in China visit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-09-07 11:28

"The length of our meetings both yesterday and today gave us an opportunity to both discuss issues in depth, but it has really been the frankness and openness of our discussions that has been most appreciated," he told Wen.

He said it had made him "very content indeed".

"I think it has given us an opportunity ... not just to discuss here economy and trade, but also the major political questions in a lot of depth and also with a lot of open discussions that I think has greatly assisted in deepening the understanding between our two countries," said Blair.

Among other issues, the two sides reviewed the programs of task forces they set up during Blair's last visit in 2003 to ease bilateral trade and investment, finance, energy, education and culture.

Britain in the largest European investor in China, pumping a total of 12 billion dollars into the country by the end of last year.

At a breakfast meeting with Chinese investors Tuesday, Blair predicted trade and investment between Britain and China could reach 40 billion dollars in the next five years.

"I said to them that the United Kingdom is open for business," said the British leader.

Blair oversaw a series of contracts between British or European companies and China, including a deal for China Southern Airlines to buy 10 A330 jets for 1.5 billion dollars from European consortium Airbus.

Britain's Standard Chartered Bank meanwhile signed an agreement to take a 19.99 percent stake worth 123 million dollars in Bohai Bank -- China's first national joint stock bank since 1996.

Travelling with Blair were 40-odd top executives from British and European companies such as Airbus, BP, British American Tobacco, Deutsche Post, GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.

His visit also has a strong cultural element with the likes of prima ballerina Darcy Bussell, football great Sir Bobby Robson, track star Colin Jackson and architect Sir Norman Foster giving "master classes" in Beijing.

A bilateral agreement was penned on cultural exchanges between the two governments.

Later Tuesday Blair, along with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, travel to New Delhi.