Chinese Web users ponder feelings about France

Chinese netizens eyed the olive branch offered by Paris with cautious optimism as former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is visiting the country to mend soured bilateral relations.

"Maybe they have made some progress. This time Raffarin didn't insist (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy had the right to meet the Dalai Lama," a Web user with the online handle "Maybe" posted on chinadaily.com.cn.

Last year, the disruptions to the Olympic torch relay in Paris and the French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama had tested many Chinese people's patience.