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Wednesday, 11 February 2009
France working with China to heal rift: former PM
Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Tuesday that much work remains to heal a rift between France and China but both sides are committed to getting ties back on track.
BEIJING (AFP) - - Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Tuesday that much work remains to heal a rift between France and China but both sides are committed to getting ties back on track.
Raffarin made the comments after a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during which the two discussed a recent chill in relations sparked by a December meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama.
“The situation right now is that everybody wants to get out of this crisis ... but there’s still work to do,” Raffarin told reporters during a news conference at a Beijing hotel.
Raffarin, leading a delegation of parliamentarians on a private visit, said diplomatic negotiations over the impasse were under way, but declined further comment.
Raffarin arrived Sunday for a week-long trip hoping to help mend relations after Sarkozy’s meeting in Poland with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, angered China.
Beijing retaliated for the meeting with the unprecedented step of cancelling a summit with the European Union in France that was scheduled for December 1.
At the time, France held the rotating presidency of the EU.
China and the European Union have since agreed to reschedule the summit.
Raffarin said during his meeting with Wen that the Chinese leader had stressed “the importance of good relations with France.”
Raffarin added that he was confident Sarkozy would take the initiative before an April Group of 20 nations meeting in London to reassure China that he also views their relationship with “great importance.”
China had said earlier on Tuesday that Raffarin’s visit could help the two sides move forward.
“Under the current circumstances, we feel this visit will help enhance understanding of the two countries and increase friendship between the two peoples,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
She repeated China’s insistence that France take steps to remedy the damage to ties but indicated Beijing was also willing to do its part.
“China hopes France can take seriously our core concerns, take concrete and effective measures and meet China halfway to bring ties back to a normal track,” she said.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
China considers him a separatist agitating for independence for his Chinese-controlled Himalayan homeland, and strongly protests whenever he meets with leaders overseas.
The Dalai Lama denies seeking independence, saying he only wants some autonomy for Tibet and an end to what he calls Chinese cultural oppression.
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France working with China to heal rift: former PM
AFP
11 February 2009
BEIJING (AFP) - - Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Tuesday that much work remains to heal a rift between France and China but both sides are committed to getting ties back on track.
Raffarin made the comments after a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during which the two discussed a recent chill in relations sparked by a December meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama.
“The situation right now is that everybody wants to get out of this crisis ... but there’s still work to do,” Raffarin told reporters during a news conference at a Beijing hotel.
Raffarin, leading a delegation of parliamentarians on a private visit, said diplomatic negotiations over the impasse were under way, but declined further comment.
Raffarin arrived Sunday for a week-long trip hoping to help mend relations after Sarkozy’s meeting in Poland with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, angered China.
Beijing retaliated for the meeting with the unprecedented step of cancelling a summit with the European Union in France that was scheduled for December 1.
At the time, France held the rotating presidency of the EU.
China and the European Union have since agreed to reschedule the summit.
Raffarin said during his meeting with Wen that the Chinese leader had stressed “the importance of good relations with France.”
Raffarin added that he was confident Sarkozy would take the initiative before an April Group of 20 nations meeting in London to reassure China that he also views their relationship with “great importance.”
China had said earlier on Tuesday that Raffarin’s visit could help the two sides move forward.
“Under the current circumstances, we feel this visit will help enhance understanding of the two countries and increase friendship between the two peoples,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
She repeated China’s insistence that France take steps to remedy the damage to ties but indicated Beijing was also willing to do its part.
“China hopes France can take seriously our core concerns, take concrete and effective measures and meet China halfway to bring ties back to a normal track,” she said.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
China considers him a separatist agitating for independence for his Chinese-controlled Himalayan homeland, and strongly protests whenever he meets with leaders overseas.
The Dalai Lama denies seeking independence, saying he only wants some autonomy for Tibet and an end to what he calls Chinese cultural oppression.
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