French President Nicholas Sarkozy is sending envoys to repair relations with China after nation-wide anti-French protests. China has sought to cool nationalist tempers, but warned Paris is seriously harming relations. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
Jin Jing, a Chinese Paralympic fencer, closely protects her extinguished Olympic torch, after the start of the Olympic torch relay in Paris, 7 Apr 2008
French Senate President Christian Poncelet delivered a private letter from the French President to Jin Jing condemning an aggressive move against her. The wheelchair-bound Chinese athlete became a symbol of Chinese outrage after a protester tried to grab the Olympic torch from her during the Paris leg of the relay.
The demonstrations in Paris were some of the largest the torch relay has faced on its world tour.
Protesters have sought to bring attention to China's heavy-handed rule of Tibet, human-rights violations and dealings with authoritarian governments.
China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the Chinese people welcomed the French president's letter.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu
She says they also hope that President Sarkozy and the French government can uphold justice on Tibet and the Olympics, and understand and support the Chinese government's necessary and justified measures to safeguard social order and safety of both lives and property.
China cut off Tibetan areas from foreign journalists and tourists in March after anti-government protests turned deadly. The move was condemned internationally, but led to a backlash from some Chinese.
Beijing has blamed the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama for the violent clashes. The central government is widely supported by Chinese who say Tibet has always been a part of China.
Chinese protesting against France march towards a Carrefour supermaket in Hefei, central China's Anhui province, 19 Apr 2008
Thousands of Chinese protested in major cities during the weekend, targeting stores of the French retailer Carrefour as well as the French Embassy and a French school in Beijing. Some called for a boycott of French goods.
The Chinese government has urged protesters to channel their energy constructively.
But Jiang warned France it seriously harmed relations after the Paris city council declared the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen.
In a statement on the Foreign Ministry website, Jiang said the act would only encourage what she called the arrogance of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence supporters. She said the symbolic award would be considered a severe provocation by all Chinese people, including Tibetans.
A former French prime minister and President Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor are also scheduled to visit China this week to repair the damaged relations.
A pro-Tibetan protester in Paris attempts to wrangle the Olympic torch from Chinese fencer Jin Jing, who has become a national hero to many because of the incident. 
After anti-France protests were held in major Chinese cities over the weekend, China and France are now attempting to smoothen relations. China has discouraged the actions of the "radical" protesters, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to a Chinese Olympic athlete who has gained national fame in China following a controversial incident in the Paris Olympic torch relay.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the demonstrations were "encouraging and touching," but added that "we do not agree with some people's radical actions." She added that China should continue to harbor friendly bilateral relations with France.
A Carrefour retail store in China. Many Chinese protesters called for a boycott of Carrefour, who they accused of supporting the Dalai Lama. 
The Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily expressed the government's views on the protests in an editorial, warning against "false patriotism" and encouraging tolerance of differing opinions. "Over-the-top nationalism is not constructive, but can do harm to the country," the English-language newspaper said. "If we want to improve things, we will have to encourage responsible patriotism."

Some Chinese protesters have called for a boycott of French goods, in particular the French retailer Carrefour, which Chinese bloggers accused of supporting the Dalai Lama. Carrefour denied this allegation, saying in an interview that "Carrefour has not given any direct or indirect support to any political or religious cause."

The protests in China were a reaction to pro-Tibetan demonstrations held in Paris on April 7, when the Olympic torch was making its journey through the French capital. Pro-Tibet activists disrupted the torch relay by attempting to extinguish the flame or otherwise halt the proceedings. 

One of the more controversial incidents of the torch relay involved Chinese Olympic fencer Jin Jing, who was one of the athletes chosen to bear the torch. Protesters tried to wrestle the torch from wheelchair-bound Jin, who is now regarded by many Chinese as a national hero because of the incident.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to Jin, condemning the attack she suffered and praising her courage. "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 all your country," Sarkozy wrote in the letter. He also extended a personal invitation to her.

"This friendly move by President Sarkozy is appreciated by the Chinese people," said ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. The letter was personally delivered by French Senate President Christian Poncelet, who is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders this week. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin is also scheduled to visit China.