Former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin have addressed a meeting to commemorate 45 years of Sino-French relations.

Tang Jiaxuan said maintaining political trust is the key to bilateral relations. He added that China and France should follow the fundamental principle of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

Jean-Pierre Raffarin said France fully understands China's concerns over stability and reunification. He said he hopes to repair the bilateral relationship in order to promote EU-China cooperation, and to deal with the global financial crisis.

Sino-French relations have been cool since last December, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy ignored strong Chinese protests, holding a private meeting with the Dalai Lama.

(CCTV February 10, 2009)