Well we know he’s into the Asian Persuasion! If you know what
Well we know he’s into the Asian Persuasion! If you know what I mean!
Tony Blair has expanded his business empire into the Far East.
The former prime minister has struck a controversial deal to advise the Vietnamese government amid growing claims that the ruling Communist Party is cracking down on free speech.
Mr Blair has held talks with the leaders of Hong Kong and Thailand in recent months, raising the prospect that he could land further business in the Far East by the end of the year.
In the new deal with Vietnam, a team of Mr Blair’s consultants are understood to be working with the foreign ministry to support economic and trade links with the UK and the European Union.
The deal was confirmed after Mr Blair flew to Hanoi on two separate occasions in the past year for talks with Nguyen Tan Dung, the Vietnamese prime minister.
On the first visit last October he offered to advise the government on issues including reforming Vietnam’s economy, attracting more foreign investment and adapting to climate change, according to a report in a local newspaper.
The meeting took place after Barack Obama, the American president, warned of a “mass crackdown on citizen journalism in Vietnam”, and amid criticism of the government for an attack on political blogs, following widespread online reports on a series of economic scandals involving tycoons with close connections to the ruling Communist Party.