One by one the barbarians come to the Middle Kingdom to apologise to
the Son of Heaven.
PARIS, April 20 (AFP) Apr 20, 2008
Two French envoys travel to China this week to deliver messages from
President Nicolas Sarkozy at a time of strained relations over the
chaos of the Olympic torch relay in Paris, officials said Sunday.
Former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin arrives in Beijing on
Wednesday with a message from Sarkozy and also from his predecessor
Jacques Chirac, his aides said.
The president's top diplomatic adviser, Jean-David Levitte, is
scheduled to travel to China at the weekend, also with a message from
Sarkozy.
The flurry of diplomatic activity comes after protests in several
Chinese cities on Saturday forced French retailer Carrefour to shut
down stores.
Carrefour has been at the centre of a boycott by Chinese consumers
after France called on China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai
Lamai to end the conflict in Tibet.
Sarkozy earlier this month said he was ready to boycott the August 8
opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics unless China starts a
dialogue with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
The French president on Friday discussed the recent violence in Tibet
with Zhao Jinjun, the special representative of Chinese President Hu
Jintao and a former Chinese ambassador to France.
Ties between France and China have been strained following the chaotic
Olympic torch relay in Paris that saw human rights activists and pro-
Tibet sup****ters take to the streets to protest Beijing's human rights
record.
Raffarin, a frequent visitor to China for the past 20 years, is due to
meet Thursday with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
He will also present a message from Chirac, who recently cancelled a
visit to Shanghai to undergo surgery to have a pacemaker implanted.
All rights reserved. =A9 2005 Agence France-Presse.
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