"Regarding peace and growth, Chinese leaders have performed a service to the world," said Raffarin, who first visited China in 1971.

Raffarin said he would not characterize himself as a China expert, but he has visited the country many times and gone to many places.

"China is the kind of country that can change your impression and attitudes when you go there and see it," he said.

Raffarin has urged France's new leaders to visit China as soon as possible after the new leadership takes power in Beijing.

China is a big country, he said, and there are more CPC members than people in France, so it must be a "tough job" to guide so large a Party, he said.

"I am very impressed by the efficient and professional organization from the top to bottom of the Party," he said, noting that he has visited many grassroots CPC organizations.

Raffarin said it was difficult to compare the CPC with Western parties, but that the CPC's administrative and managerial approach are crucial to China's stability and unity.

China's strength, he said, results in part from its "collective leadership".

"I always remind the Western media that China is led by a team of sophisticated and devoted leaders and politicians."

"I am very confident in the future of China," he added.

Raffarin said that the main external challenge facing China's new leadership will lie in maintaining the momentum of peaceful development. "China's new leaders should continue this positive approach," he said.

At home, he said, China should keep developing its economy and encourage the development of its culture, and it should balance its economic growth and cultural development.

"Culture should have the same importance as the economy in China," Raffarin said.

"I think Confucius is very modern, a man of today. So I hope the new leaders will remain in touch with the past to help the world understand the Chinese way of thinking,"