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Tony Blair was 'go-between' for Chinese tycoon sought by Interpol as bribe suspect

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair addresses the media after attending the European People's Party (EPP) Group Bureau meeting at Druids Glen on May 12, 2017 in Wicklow, Ireland. - Getty Images Europe
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair addresses the media after attending the European People's Party (EPP) Group Bureau meeting at Druids Glen on May 12, 2017 in Wicklow, Ireland. - Getty Images Europe

Tony Blair acted as go-between between a controversial Chinese businessmen now being sought by Interpol and the Abu Dhabi royal family, helping the entrepreneur raise billions of dollars, a report in China has alleged.

The former prime minister was alleged to have travelled with Guo Wengui on his private jet for a meeting between the two parties in 2013, respected business magazine Caixin reported on Thursday.

Mr Guo, who is also known as Miles Kwok, was introduced by Mr Blair to “key Abu Dhabi figures” including the Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the report said.

Mr Guo later received $3 billion (£2.3 billion) from his new contacts to help with future business deals, Caixin claimed.

Mr Blair and his wife have been criticised in the past for having close relationships with the super-rich. They are reported to have enjoyed holidays at houses owned by pop stars Sir Cliff Richard and Robin Gibb and Silvio Berlusconi at his villa in Sardinia.

Tony and Cherie Blair
Tony and Cherie Blair

The Blairs have also stayed at a private game reserve in South Africa owned by Sir Richard Branson. They were also reported to have close ties with Haim Saban, the billionaire Hollywood media tycoon, and his wife Cheryl, who they met through their mutual friends, Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Mr Guo is one of China’s most flamboyant businessmen and an A-lister on the international circuit. The 50-year-old is a regular visitor to London and was recently pictured in Mark’s Club in Mayfair, which is visited by establishment figures, including royalty and senior politicians.

Guo Wengui 
Guo Wengui

In 2009 he bought 5,000 copies of an autobiography written by Mr Blair’s wife Cherie, which he apparently gave to staff to help motivate them.

Mr Guo reportedly left China two years ago and resides in a $67.5 million apartment overlooking Central Park in Manhattan. He is also a member of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago private resort in Florida.

Beijing confirmed last month that Interpol had issued a "red notice" for Mr Guo. The property tycoon is reportedly suspected of paying 60 million yuan (£6.7 million) in bribes to Ma Jian, the disgraced former Chinese state security vice minister.

The red notice is a request to locate and arrest a suspect. It is not an international arrest warrant.

A Chinese official was appointed head of Interpol last November, a decision that raised eyebrows given Beijing’s vow to clampdown on overseas corruption suspects.

Mr Guo has accused the Chinese government of being politically selective with its highly publicised anti-graft drive.

The campaign has put many wealthy businessmen behind bars. He described Caixin’s report on his business affairs as “lies” on his verified Twitter account.

But he said the report was a “good advertisement”, an apparently sarcastic reference to his alleged relationship with a former world leader.

A spokeswoman for Mr Blair, however, said the former Labour prime minister “has known Mr Kwok as a friend for 10 years. “Mr Kwok has in the past been a donor to Mr Blair's charitable work,” the spokeswoman added.

“He has never had a commercial contract with Mr Kwok nor received fees for such work from him, neither has his company.” 

Additional reporting by Christine Wei