Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said Thursday that China may send a “shopping” delegation to France, in a sign of improving relations between the two countries following months of diplomatic tension, the South China Morning Post reported. In addition, both Raffarin and China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed a series of visits by French representatives to the mainland. Raffarin added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has invited Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit France, and that “the response was very positive.” Raffarin, who was on his second visit to Beijing this year, also said mainland leaders could visit France before the end of the year. French and Chinese diplomatic relations have suffered following Sarkozy’s meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in December.