Gaps remained between China and Britain over human rights, said Mr Blair, after he successfully pleaded for the release of top dissident Xu Wenli in his meeting with President Jiang Zemin.
'There is no disguising that we continue to have our serious concerns and differences about human rights, about political and religious freedoms and about the situation in Tibet which I discussed at length with President Jiang Zemin,' Mr Blair said at a British Chamber of Commerce dinner following their meeting.
Mr Xu was detained yesterday as he had breakfast. He was released in the afternoon after being questioned about the formation of an independent democracy party.
The British leader hailed Mr Xu's release as evidence that western dialogue on human rights was working.
But Mr Blair called on China's leaders to be bolder and do more. He said he urged them to expand freedom.
'To have the courage and vision to believe that the result will be a China that is stronger, rather than weaker, I urge my Chinese colleagues to go down that road,' he said.
