Hu calls for French cooperation in easing tensions

President Hu Jintao said French cooperation was necessary to restore Sino-French relations following the Olympic torch protests in Paris and subsequent picketing of Carrefour stores in China by local demonstrators, AFP reported. In a meeting with Christian Poncelet, leader of the French Senate, Hu complained about the protests against China’s control of Tibet that overshadowed the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay. "This hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and is something that we do not want to see," Hu said. He added that he hoped the French side would work with China to overcome the impact of the disturbances. Poncelet expressed "regret" for the disturbances in Paris. French retailer Carrefour has become the focus of Chinese anger over a perceived bias in Western coverage of the Tibet crackdown, partly as a result of internet claims that it supports Tibetan independence.