Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng) Photo Gallery>>>

Former French prime minister sends signal to mend ties

    BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- A former French Prime Minister said here Tuesday that France values relations with China and does not intend to infringe upon China's major core concerns.

    "France sticks to the one-China policy, respects and supports China's sovereignty, reunification and territorial integrity," Jean-Pierre Raffarin told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday. Full story

Raffarin: France hopes to ease strains in relations with China

    BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- France hopes to ease tensions in Sino-French ties and work with China to meet the challenge of the global financial crisis, said former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin here Monday.

    "We should realize how serious is the cancellation of the 11th EU-China Summit concerning the current financial crisis," Raffarin told a symposium marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.  Full story

China calls for France's efforts to get bilateral ties back on track

    BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China called here on Tuesday for France to make concerted efforts to get soured bilateral relations back on track.

    "We hope the French can attach great importance to the core concerns of China", Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a routine press conference, urging France to make "effective" and "positive" measures to collaborate with China to get bilateral relations back on track at an early date.  Full story