China, France Scramble to Cool Frayed Tempers
“…China and France sought Wednesday to cool tempers over Tibet and the Olympics, with a former French premier heading here for top-level talks criticising a decision to honour the Dalai Lama…”
Source: AFP
China and France sought Wednesday to cool tempers over Tibet and the Olympics, with a former French premier heading here for top-level talks criticising a decision to honour the Dalai Lama.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who arrives Thursday bearing a message from President Nicolas Sarkozy, said Paris city council had contradicted official policy by conferring honorary citizenship on the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Raffarin is one of three senior French figures visiting Beijing this week, all carrying letters from Sarkozy as the president tries to repair relations damaged by pro-Tibet protests in France and hurt pride in China.
At the same time, the Chinese commerce ministry warned against an ongoing boycott of French supermarket giant Carrefour, noting that it employs 40,000 workers here and that up to 95 percent of its products are made in China.
Carrefour has been the focus of Chinese angered by what they see as biased coverage of China’s crackdown in Tibet, chaotic protests that marred the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay, and hints Sarkozy could boycott the opening ceremony of the Games in August.
Raffarin characterised the honour by Paris city council as “a very serious political mistake,” according to an interview published Wednesday in the China Youth Daily.
“While President Sarkozy makes efforts to improve France-China relations, the Paris administration is running in the opposite direction to the French government. This is very bad,” he was quoted as saying.
The Paris honour has incensed Beijing, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman saying it would have a “severely negative impact”.
Raffarin was quoted in the interview, published in Chinese, as saying there were “no strategic differences or confrontation between France and China” and the tensions were caused by a “clash of emotions.”
He is due Thursday to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and is expected to pass on Sarkozy’s letter at a separate meeting with President Hu Jintao.
Raffarin told France’s Le Parisien newspaper he was bringing a biography of French war hero and former president Charles de Gaulle as a gift for Hu from Sarkozy.
French Senate leader Christian Poncelet is already in China, and on Monday delivered a message from Sarkozy to a wheelchair-bound Chinese athlete who was jostled by pro-Tibet protesters at the April 7 Paris torch relay.
France’s ambassador to Beijing, Herve Ladsous, was quoted in the official Global Times as saying that what happened to the Olympic flame in Paris — it had to be doused several times by officials — was “very regrettable.”
Sarkozy’s diplomatic advisor Jean-David Levitte is also due in China this weekend.
The French president angered China earlier this month when he said dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama would ensure the Olympic Games could occur “in a calm manner.”
But Raffarin was quoted Wednesday as saying China’s preconditions for such dialogue were “completely reasonable.”
China accuses the religious leader of striving for Tibetan independence and seeking to hamper the Olympics by fomenting unrest, and says he must stop all such activities before any dialogue can happen.
However, talks have not been forthcoming despite the Dalai Lama’s repeated statements that Tibet is a part of China and that he supports the Games.
Protests against Chinese rule over Tibet erupted last month in the capital Lhasa, spreading to other areas of China with Tibetan populations.
China says Tibetan “rioters” killed 18 civilians and two police officers, while exiled Tibetan leaders have said more than 150 people have died in the subsequent government crackdown.
Coinciding with the French missions, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso is set to meet China’s top leaders here Friday, EU officials said. A Commission spokesman said Tibet would be on that agenda.
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)You need to be a registered member to rate this post.
Loading ...Posted in Politics
abscise…
theres no alpha omega?…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG today I noticed this…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG today I found this…
All Natural Swimming Ponds…
[…]listed below there are various the actual hyperlink to a few web-sites which I suspect you ought to head over to[…]…
Looking around…
I like to look around the web, often I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
voucher offers…
While I was browsing today I saw a excellent post concerning…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
Informative and precise…
Its hard to find informative and precise information but here I found…
Its {hard|difficult} to find informative and {precise|accurate} {info|information} but here I {found|noted}…
I am regularly proclaiming that its hard to find quality help, but here is …
Tumblr article…
I saw someone talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Weebly article…
I saw someone writing about this on Weebly and it linked to…
Weebly article…
I saw a writer writing about this on Weebly and it linked to…
Wikia…
Wika linked to this place…
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing yesterday I noticed a excellent post concerning…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and realized…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this website…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around online and realized…
Looking around…
I love to look around the internet, often I will just go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really cool information…
Just Browsing…
While I was surfing yesterday I saw a excellent post about…
Bing results…
While browsing Bing I discovered this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly proclaiming that its difficult to get good help, but here is …
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Just Looking…
When I was browsing yesterday I noticed a excellent post concerning…
Much Thanks!…
Thanks for taking the time to provide us all with the info!…
Cool sites…
[…]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[…]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[…]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[…]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[…]……
Looking around…
I like to browse in various places on the online world, regularly I will just go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Blogs ou should be reading…
[…]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……
Awesome website…
[…]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[…]……
Sources…
[…]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[…]……
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Gems form the internet…
[…]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……
Online Article……
[…]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available […]……
Yahoo News…
When checking out Yahoo News yesterday I found this…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this place…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Yahoo News…
When checking out Yahoo News today I noticed this…
Rainy Day…
It was a wet day here today, so I just took to surfing about online and realized…
Bing results…
While browsing Bing I discovered this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Looking around…
I love to surf in various places on the online world, regularly I will just go to Digg and follow thru…
Funny…
That one made me laugh out loud…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this site…
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool info…
Weebly article…
I saw a writer talking about this on Weebly and it linked to…
matratze auflage…
I have been reading out many of your stories and i can state clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your site….
Its hard to find good help…
I am forever saying that its difficult to get quality help, but here is …
Informative and precise…
Its hard to find informative and precise information but here I found…
Yahoo News…
When checking out Yahoo News yesterday I found this…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this website…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and realized…
Bing results…
While browsing Bing I found this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Just Looking…
When I was surfing today I saw a great post concerning…
Looking around…
I love to look in various places on the internet, often I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found…
Iron man 3 …
The latest trailer for the new iron man 3 is vieweable at the iron man 3 website….
Looking around…
I love to surf in various places on the online world, often I will just go to Stumble Upon and read and check stuff out…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really interesting information…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Useful and precise…
Its difficult to find really informative and accurate info but here I found…
Bing results…
While searching Bing I found this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Just Looking…
When I was browsing today I saw a excellent post concerning…
Just Looking…
When I was browsing yesterday I saw a great post concerning…
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer talking about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here today, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found…
Bing results…
While browsing Bing I found this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and realized…
Looking around…
I love to look in various places on the internet, often I will go to Digg and follow thru…
Useful and precise…
Its hard to find really informative and accurate information but here I noted…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really cool info…
Looking around…
I love to surf around the internet, regularly I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
Just Looking…
When I was browsing yesterday I noticed a excellent post about…
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really constantnly saying that its hard to find quality honest help, but here is …
Bing results…
While searching Bing I discovered this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Yahoo News…
When checking out Yahoo News yesterday I found this…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really interesting information…
Weebly article…
I saw someone writing about this on Weebly and it linked to…
Weebly article…
I saw someone talking about this on Weebly and it linked to…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and found…
phentermine hydrochloride…
Do have an email system where your blog posts emailed to me?…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really interesting topic…
phentermine alternatives…
Once again brilliant. It is not advice explained so well homework, and I am on the look out for….
phentermine reviews…
I like your blog but how do I subscribe?…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this place…
Looking around…
I love to surf around the online world, often I will just go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here today, so I just took to piddeling around online and realized…
Looking around…
I love to browse around the internet, regularly I will just go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really interesting info…
Tumblr article…
I saw someone writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Just Looking…
When I was surfing yesterday I saw a great article about…
It is really really hard to find enough help…
My friend is regularly but annoyingly saying that truly its hard to easily find some good honest help, but here is …
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really constantnly saying that its hard to get good honest help, but here is …
Tumblr…
Tumblr just linked to this cool site…
Weebly article…
I saw a girl talking a lot about this on Tumblr and it linked right to…
Yahoo News…
When reading a bit Google and Bing News now I found this…
Hard Day…
It was a hard day here today, so I just took to messing around online and realized…
That’s Right!…
This is a really good blog. Good work!…
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really regularly proclaiming that its difficult to find good honest help, but here is …
Just Looking…
When I was browsing a bit this week end I saw a nice article concerning…
Yahoo News…
When reading a bit Google and Bing News just now I noticed this…
Iron Man 3…
I must voice my affection for your kind-heartedness supporting those people who absolutely need assistance with your theme. Your very own commitment to passing the solution up and down appears to be exceedingly useful and has regularly permitted most p…
Iron Man 3…
I simply wished to say thanks once again. I am not sure the things I would’ve implemented without the entire techniques shown by you about such a problem. Entirely was a distressing scenario in my circumstances, however , understanding your well-writt…
Just Looking…
When I was surfing a bit this week end I saw a nice article about…
Looking around…
I love to look a bit in various places on the vast internet, quite often I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
Hard Day…
It was quite a hard day for me today, so I decided to take to piddeling around a lot on the internet and rapidly found…
Looking around…
I love to browse in various places on the internet, often I will go to Stumble Upon and read and check stuff out…
Yahoo News…
When reading a bit Google and Bing News now I noticed this…
Yahoo News…
When reading a bit Google and Bing News now I noticed this…
Bing results…
While browsing a bit Bing and Yahoo I happily discovered this page in the search results and I do not think it match…
Tumblr article…
I saw a writer writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Iron Man 3 Trailer…
Needed to draft you one very little word in order to say thanks the moment again relating to the exceptional techniques you’ve discussed on this website. It is simply remarkably open-handed with you giving openly what exactly a few people would’ve ma…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Earl Nightingale …
You are, at this moment, standing, right in the middle of your own “acres of diamonds.” …
Wikia…
Wika linked to this website…
Links…
[…]blogs of interest we have a link to[…]……
Looking around…
I love to surf in various places on the online world, often I will just go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Yep….
I couldn’t have said it better myself……
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool information…