Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks during the book launch of the Chinese edition of his memoir A Journey in Beijing on August 30 (XINHUA)

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, inaugurated the publication of the Chinese edition of his memoirs, A Journey, in Beijing on Tuesday.

In the book's preface, Blair, who served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007, hailed the progress China has made since his first visit to the country in 1989.

During the ceremony, Blair also referred to China as a developing country which has recorded "unprecedented achievements" since opening up to the world in the late 1970s.

After the ceremony, Blair met with Liu Binjie, president of the General Administration of Press and Publication, and pledged to promote cultural exchanges between Britain and China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2011)