Ex-French PM in Beijing to try to put soured relations back on track

Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin yesterday said he hoped France and China would restart dialogue soon.

Beginning his weeklong visit to China, his second in 10 months, to repair soured Sino-French ties, Raffarin said bilateral relations should be put back on the track.

This is very important also because "we share the same standpoint" on how to overcome the global economic crisis, he said.