Special report:   2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The French ambassador to China Herve Ladsous said he felt "regretful" for the disruptions of the Olympic torch relay in Paris, and hoped to meet the Chinese torch bearer Jin Jing who was attacked during the relay.

    Meeting Chinese media in the embassy on Friday, Ladsous said he was tormented as most French people were when several supporters of "Tibetan independence" secessionists rushed to Jin Jing, a wheelchair-bound fence-player, and tried to snatch away the torch.

    The stance of the French government is "clear" that the Olympic Games, which is a globally grand affair, should not be politicized, but achieve big success, Ladsous said.

    Reviewing the cooperation China and France have carried out in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Ladsous said France highly values such friendly and reciprocal relationship, and hopes it could have a long-term and sound development.

    Ladsous also reaffirmed that French government respects China and its sovereignty over Tibet.

    As for the drapping of the flags of the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile" over the city hall of Paris during the relay and Paris Mayor Betrand Delanoe's reported proposal to make the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen of the city, Ladsous said those cannot represent the stance of the French government.