Sarkozy eyes better relations with China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-09 09:44

France is happy with the current momentum in relationship with Beijing and looks forward to foster the partnership at a higher level, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday.

In a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo at the Elysee, Sarkozy said that France attached great importance to relations with China, and hoped to use the upcoming Asia-Europe Summit in Beijing at the end of this month and the EU-China Summit in November in Lyon to bring a higher level strategic partnership between France and China as well as between Europe and China, according to Chinese diplomatic sources close to the meeting.

He said the French side is happy about the improvement in bilateral relations and the current momentum of development of the relations.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy gestures during his address at the closing session of the 1st World Policy Conference in Evian October 8, 2008. [Agencies]

The president also hailed the success of Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the recent launch of the Shenzhou VII spacecraft.

Dai told Sarkozy that China is willing to work together with France to promote a healthy, stable and in-depth bilateral relationship.

Dai also visited former French president Jacques Chirac in Paris on Tuesday.

Beijing and Paris have exchanged acknowledgements recently that bilateral relations are back to the normal track after some unhappy episodes earlier this year.

France joined the Western chorus against China with groundless accusations on the Tibet issue in April. The chaos during the Paris leg of the Olympic torch's global relay further angered the Chinese, as rioters even tried to attack a wheelchair-bound torchbearer, Jin Jing.

Paris made a series of fence-mending moves after that, as Sarkozy sent a number of envoys to Beijing and even wrote a letter of sympathy to Jin Jing. The President also came to Beijing for the Olympic Opening Ceremony despite some political pressure at home.

Last month, Sarkozy hosted Jin Jing at the Elysee, honoring his promise to bring the girl back to Paris for redemption of the hurt she had experienced.

On September 30, at the Chinese National Day reception in Paris, Chinese Ambassador to France Kong Quan said he was confident bilateral relations will move forward in a "healthy and stable way" under joint push from both countries.

Xinhua-China Daily