A former French Prime Minister said in Beijing on 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.

The issues concerning Tibet were China's internal affairs, Raffarin said, noting that France had fully recognized the sensitivity and serious consequences of related issues.

France attached great importance to China's positions and would take practical action to restore political mutual trust and promote the improvement and growth of bilateral relations, he said.

Raffarin said his country was ready to increase cooperation with China to jointly cope with the global financial crisis and other challenges.

Raffarin and his delegation were here on a visit to China from Feb. 8 to Feb. 14 at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Bilateral relations hit a low after French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama last year in Poland. China postponed the 11th China-EU Summit and lodged a strong protest against the meeting, saying it "severely undermined China's core interests."

As to current difficulties in Sino-French ties, Premier Wen Jiabao said the blame did not lie with China. He urged France to actively and positively respond to China's major core concerns.

"We will not change the basic principles of adherence to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," Wen said, noting that the policy of promoting friendly bilateral relations and the determination to advance Sino-EU cooperation will not change.

The establishment of Sino-French diplomatic ties benefited both peoples and also exerted great influence on the world political situation, he said.

Wen expressed the hope that Raffarin and people from all circles in France would continue efforts to improve and develop bilateral relations.

Source: Xinhua

http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2009-02/11/content_190459.htm