(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-15 20:57

BEIJING - China on Tuesday urged the French side to consider and reflect upon opinions and sentiments of expressed by some Chinese people on the internet, noting there must be reasons for them.

"Some Chinese people have expressed their opinions and feelings recently. All these are by no means accidental, and the French side needs to ponder and reflect upon them," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a press conference.

Jiang made the remarks when she was asked to comment on netizens' call on the Internet urging the Chinese public to boycott French goods following disruptions of the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

"I believe these people will abide by laws and regulations in expressing their reasonable appeals," Jiang said.

As for China-France ties, Jiang said it needs both sides' efforts to be friends. The Chinese cannot accept France promising to value China-France ties on one hand, while witnessing occurrence of things "incomprehensible and unacceptable" for Chinese people from time to time, she added.

"I hope the French side will give audience to the Chinese people and take an objective, impartial stance on the recent issues," said Jiang, calling for respect for facts, making a clear distinction between right and wrong and understanding and supporting the just stance and measures taken by the Chinese government like the majority of countries in the world.

Jiang stressed that China attached great importance to the strategic cooperative partnership with France.

"We hope various circles in France could cherish the friendly ties with their real actions, and create favorable conditions and make positive efforts and contributions for the further development of the ties, "she said.