UK and China hold 'open' human rights talks

The prime minister has praised his Chinese counterpart for holding "frank and open" discussions with him on issues including human rights.

Tony Blair was speaking on Wednesday after a morning spent with Beijing premier Wen Jiabao in which concerns over Chinese restrictions on civil liberties and media freedoms were on the agenda.

Blair said the discussions had focused on topics "including issues to do with human rights but also to do with how China sees its role and its development in the future".

"One of the most refreshing things about the dialogue that we have together is the very open way in which he discusses these issues," he said. "And I think that augurs very, very well for the future."

Blair, who pressed for greater business and education links with the emerging economic superpower, was also joined by culture secretary Tessa Jowell at the meeting being held in Number 10.

She was expected to discuss plans being made for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as she continues preparations for the London Games which follow in 2012.

Downing Street said Britain had already called for the international press to be able to report freely during the Olympics.

"We will continue to press that case," the prime minister's official spokesman said.

Wednesday's meeting was part of a wider European visit for the Chinese leader, who is campaigning for an EU arms embargo to be lifted.

He attended an EU-Asia summit in Helsinki on Tuesday and was set to hold talks with Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Before setting off on the trip, the Chinese prime minister ruled out any swift advance towards greater democracy.

In a rare interview with journalists in China last week, he made clear that the visit to Europe would not prompt Beijing to accelerate the introduction of direct elections.

But he did promise that the international press would have full reporting rights in China as long as they observed local laws.

"The Chinese government will ensure the freedom and rights of the foreign news media and foreign financial information agencies operating in China," he said.