France urges mutual respect with China

Beijing: The French prime minister said Tuesday mutual respect was key to stronger ties with China, saying during his visit that France did not want to interfere in Chinese affairs but that Beijing should show more tolerance for the European country's belief in freedom of speech.

Relations nose-dived last year in the wake of chaotic protests by exiled Tibetans and other activists during the Olympic torch's passage through Paris and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's talks with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Ties have warmed since Paris pledged in April to reject Tibetan independence in "any form".

"It is true that there has been some misunderstanding between China and France in the past...and we have cleared them. Now we want to build our relationship on the basis of mutual respect," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in response to a question from a student at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he made a speech.