Sino-French relations

Congratulations to diplomats of both countries for producing the Sino-French Press Communique in time for the G20 summit.

The last-minute compromise, or consensus, is a blessing for both countries.

And indeed the London summit.

Failure to do so would not only have been embarrassing for presidents Hu Jintao and Nicolas Sarkozy.

The London summit's commitment to meaningful coordination and collaboration would also have suffered had China and France remained estranged politically.

The communiqu talked about strategic insight.

That is exactly what is lacking now in the Sino-French relationship. China and France have never been alike in some aspects.

On some points, our values diverge tremendously.

But this did not stop the two countries from maintaining generally friendly ties in the past. Just years back, France was one of the most favored foreign countries among ordinary Chinese.

Those good old days owe much to the strategic insight of the leaders of those times. They saw differences, but they were conscious of each other's sensitivities. Good feelings were not just government-to-government.

But those feelings have vanished lately.

Many in this country were outraged by the farce surrounding the Dalai Lama.

To most people here, the globe-trotting monk is not the respectable religious figure he is in Western eyes.

Instead of seeking peace, he incites hatred among our people, and between the people and the government.

That is why the Chinese insist that any endorsement of the Dalai Lama threatens our fundamental national interest.

The French reiterated its commitment to "one China," saying Tibet is an inalienable part of it. This is China's diplomatic bottom line.

But there's a lot more that needs clarifying. The French say they are "fully aware of" the weight of the Tibet issue on Chinese minds.

We hope they really are.

The two parties pledged to enhance their all-round strategic partnership. We appreciate the shared willingness displayed here. Yet it is not merely a matter of rhetoric. As the past rapport between the two countries demonstrates, both countries have to be sensitive to each other's concerns.

(China Daily 04/02/2009 page8)