Former PM says France seeks better China ties

Source: Xinhua  |   2009-2-10  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FRANCE hopes to ease tensions with China and work together to address the global financial crisis, former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said in Beijing yesterday.

"We should realize the seriousness of the cancellation of the 11th EU-China Summit concerning the current financial crisis," Raffarin told a symposium marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Raffarin said rather than underestimating the importance of this event, France had given full attention to the problem.

After French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama last year in Poland, China postponed the 11th China-EU Summit and lodged a strong protest against the meeting, saying it "severely undermined China's core interests."

"Premier Wen Jiabao's (recent) European visit didn't include France, and the French government paid great attention to China's signals," Raffarin said, noting he would meet Wen today.

He said France fully understands China's concern, adding, "We should develop our relationship through mutual respect, rather than criticizing each other."

Raffarin said he believed that China and France, given their common interests, would overcome their difficulties.