CHINA: French president Nicolas Sarkozy says his country wishes to show solidarity with the Japanese people following massive earthquake and tsunami

Record ID: 465229

  • Title: CHINA: French president Nicolas Sarkozy says his country wishes to show solidarity with the Japanese people following massive earthquake and tsunami
  • Date: 1st April 2011
  • Summary: NANJING, CHINA (MARCH 31, 2011) (REUTERS) FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY AND CHINESE VICE PREMIER WANG QISHAN WALKING IN, SHAKING HANDS WITH OTHERS CAMERAMAN FILMING SARKOZY WALKING UP TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SAYING: "First, allow me to spare a thought for the people of Japan, for whom we all feel solidarity at this particularly difficult time. Dear minister Tamaki, I would ask you to convey to the prime minister the expression of our support and our solidarity." SARKOZY SHAKING HANDS WITH WANG, TAKING SEAT BESIDE FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER CHRISTINE LAGARDE
  • Embargoed: 16th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA712ZNYNONGRQ523G3N8JGO9L0
  • Story Text: French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his support for the people of Japan on Thursday (March 31), before he was due to travel to the country devastated by a huge earthquake and tsunami.
    At a G20 seminar hosted by China in Nanjing, Sarkozy took a moment to address the current crisis and recovery underway in the Asian nation.
    "First, allow me to spare a thought for the people of Japan, for whom we all feel solidarity at this particularly difficult time. Dear minister Tamaki, I would ask you to convey to the prime minister the expression of our support and our solidarity," he said.
    The French President will visit Japan later on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, and will be the first foreign leader to visit since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear crisis.
    French nuclear experts are also flying out to help contain radiation at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
    Japanese authorities are struggling to avert a nuclear catastrophe at the power plant damaged by the quake and tsunami and the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co , has sought help from French companies including Electricite de France SA and Areva SA .
    France is the world's most nuclear-dependent country, producing 75 percent of its power needs from 58 nuclear reactors around the country, and is selling state-owned Areva's reactors all over the world.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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