France/China

Sarkozy to attend Olympics opening in Beijing

Article published on the 2008-07-09 Latest update 2008-08-06 14:10 TU

Sarkozy with other G8 leaders in Japan
(Credit: Reuters)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games next month in Beijing, the Elysee Palace announced Wednesday. Sarkozy spoke to Chinese Prime Minister Hu Jintao on the fringes of the G8 meeting in Japan. Relations between the two countries are healthy again, according to a diplomat close to the talks.

Relations between the two countries are back on track after the violent  protests in Paris as the Olympic flame passed through Paris which infuriated Beijing.

Sarkozy will be wearing two hats in the Chinese capital. He will be representing the French government and representing the European Union.

The French president had kept the world in suspense for months, saying that he was weighing his options on whether to attend.

He had threatened to boycott the opening gala, following the Chinese reeaction to protests in Tibet in March, which was widely criticised by human rights groups.

Sarkozy declared that his decision on the matter would depend on progress in talks between China and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

China and the Dalai Lama's representatives held talks in May and are currently engaged in a second round.

The Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) campaigned  for a boycott of the opening ceremony by world leaders. Vincent Brossel of RSF told RFI he was very disappointed with Sarkozy's decision.

The Dalai Lama's representatives who went to Beijing "came back with a lot of frustration, saying that the dialogue was just a way to get international support, but that there was nothing concrete in this dialogue," said Brossel.

Sarkozy may meet informally with the Dalai Lama when he visits Paris next month.