Beijing - China on Monday protested sharply against a meeting on the weekend between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
The meeting, which took place at the sidelines of a conference in Poland, triggered Chinese outrage and heated protests in online forums, as well as calls to boycott French goods.
Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned the French Ambassador to China, Herve Ladsous, delivering a strong protest, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Beijing - China reacted angrily Sunday to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama over the weekend in Europe.
"This development is indeed an unwise move which not only hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, but also undermines Sino-French ties," state-run Xinhua news agency said of Saturday's meeting in the Policsh city of Gdansk.
"The Dalai Lama has long been engaged in activities worldwide to split China. He can by no means conceal the separatist nature of his activities no matter what by whatever disguise and whatever florid rhetoric he may use."
La Clusaz, France - Petter Northug of Norway gave another demonstration of his sprint finish strength on Saturday to win a 30 kilometres cross-country ski race.
Northug, 22, was unstoppable on the home stretch of the freestyle mass start race in France as he claimed his third career victory in 1 hour 19 minutes 26.5 seconds in driving snowfall.
Dario Cologna of Italy was beaten by three tenth of a second as he climbed a World Cup podium for the first time in his career in second place.
Compatriot Giorgio di Centa and Alexander Legkov of Russia were joint third, 2.0 seconds behind Northug.
India is all set to avail optimum use of the civil nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia, France and United States. The country has already crossed the nuclear isolation era after necessary approvals from countries of nuclear supplier group. It can now import nuclear fuel and sophisticated technology from around the world for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has chosen the head of his ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, Patrick Devedjian, to implement his ambitious economic stimulus plan, Sarkozy's office said on Friday.
The 64-year-old Devedjian will become part of the government and occupy a ministerial-level post in the office of Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
On Thursday, Sarkozy presented an economic stimulus plan that will cost some 26 billion euros (33 billion dollars) to implement.
It includes support for the ailing auto and housing sectors, accelerated state payments of tax credits and rebates to French industry and accelerated public infrastructure investments.
Beijing - China on Monday protested sharply against a meeting on the weekend between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
La Clusaz, France - Petter Northug of Norway gave another demonstration of his sprint finish strength on Saturday to win a 30 kilometres cross-country ski race.
India is all set to avail optimum use of the civil nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia, France and United States. The country has already crossed the nuclear isolation era after necessary approvals from countries of nuclear supplier group. It can now import nuclear fuel and sophisticated technology from around the world for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
