The former Chinese ambassador to France Zhao Jinjun paid a visit to France as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao from April 18 to 22. This was an important diplomatic move taken by China in the recent situation, and indicated that China valued the traditional friendship with France, Jiang noted.

During his stay in France, Zhao met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Senate President Christian Poncelet and former prime ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin.

Zhao conveyed President Hu Jintao's letter to Sarkozy, and discussed the China-France relations and other issues of common concern with the French side. Sarkozy reiterated that France attached great importance to relations with China, and firmly adhered to the one-China policy on the Taiwan and Tibet issues. The president also wished success to the Beijing Olympics.

Visiting French Senate President Christian Poncelet on Monday made a special trip to meet with Chinese torch bearer Jin Jing, and conveyed President Sarkozy's sympathy note to the wheelchair-bound fencer who was attacked during the Olympics torch relay in Paris.

"I would like to express to you my deep feeling towards the way you were shoved in Paris on April 7 when you were holding the Olympic flame. You showed an outstanding courage, which honors you, and (through you) all your country," Sarkozy said in the letter.

Sarkozy also condemned the intolerable attack which Jin Jing suffered.

Jiang Yu said the Chinese people appreciated President Sarkozy's friendly attitude, hoping that Sarkozy and his government would adhere to justice on such important issues as Tibet and the Olympic Games.

China hoped that France would understand and support China's reasonable and necessary measures to safeguard social stability and to protect people's lives and property safety, Jiang said, urging that France should oppose politicizing the Olympic Games and support the Beijing Olympics.

Poncelet's visit is from April 21 to 27 at the invitation of top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will visit China from April 24 to 27. They were old friends of China, and China highly valued their visits, Jiang noted.

According to Jiang, Chinese president Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and top political advisor Jia Qinglin will meet with Poncelet separately, and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with Raffarin.

Moreover, Jean-David Levitte, a diplomatic adviser of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will pay a visit to China from April 26 to 27, and hold an unofficial consultation about the Sino-French strategic dialogue with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The two sides are to exchange views on bilateral relations and major international and regional affairs, Jiang said.

China's arms trade with Zimbabwe 'normal', 'irrelevant' to African country's domestic situation: FM

China on Tuesday said the country's shipment of military items to Zimbabwe was "normal trade" and "irrelevant" to the African nation's recent domestic situation.

In reply to a reporter's question at a routine press conference here, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu noted it was common practice in international trade to transport goods to inland African countries through South Africa's Durban port.