Journeys to this West no great shakes

Mr Herve Ladsous is worthy of his title as French ambassador to China, for he knows his host country pretty well - at least in one matter.

He said on Monday that he learned from Chinese tourism officials that "the Chinese government has not issued any notices discouraging tourists from going to France" and "I believe them."

French media reported earlier this month that the Beijing municipal government had issued "an order" to local travel agents asking them to "withdraw trips to France from their catalogue of tourism destinations".