Tony Blair yesterday pledged to strengthen defence and counter-terrorism ties with Indonesia as part of what he called a “new relationship” with the world’s most populous Muslim country.

Mr Blair, the first British prime minister to visit Indonesia in 21 years, praisedthe country as a voice for moderation in the Islamic world. “Indonesia has a crucial part in trying to ensure that there is greater understanding between people of different faiths,” he said. “And that within that greater understanding we’ve got a chance of resolving the conflicts that there are in the world.”