Sarkozy Suggests China Be Invited To G8 Summit Next Year
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PARIS (AP)–French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday suggested that China and other emerging powers be invited to attend the 2008 G-8 Summit in Japan.
“I don’t see how one can decide the various balances of the world without China and without India,” Sarkozy told a group of French and Japanese business leaders, according to a text made public. “I don’t see how one can say to the Chinese that we don’t accept your attitude without inviting them to the table.”
Sarkozy’s remarks come ahead of his first trip to China as president, which starts Sunday.
During the trip, Sarkozy is to press China over its currency, the yuan, which some critics say is undervalued, making Chinese exports unfairly cheap. A French official said Sarkozy wants a “more equitable, fairer” balance between the yuan and the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Japanese yen.
“There is a real problem,” said the official, who spoke on condition that he not be identified by name.
The official said, while refusing to give details, that talks are still ongoing about possible Chinese contracts for European planemaker Airbus, which is headquartered in France, and French state-run nuclear giant Areva SA (CEI.FR). Areva has said it’s negotiating to sell two third-generation EPR pressurized water reactors.
U.S., European and Russian suppliers of nuclear power technology have all been vying to land contracts in China, where as many as 32 nuclear plants are expected to be built by 2020, as China tries to meet surging power demands while cutting emissions and reducing reliance on imported oil.
France sees a market in China for “clean” technologies. And if China refuses to take steps to curb its pollution and emissions, Sarkozy has floated the idea of a possible punitive tax on Chinese imports.
“If the carrot is not sufficient … there is always the stick,” said the official. “The tax is still there like a Damocles sword.”
Sarkozy lands Sunday in Xi’an, where he will visit the famed terracotta army, and he has a dinner that night in Beijing with President Hu Jintao. The two leaders hold more meetings Monday, before Sarkozy flies to Shanghai on Tuesday and then leaves for Paris that night. [ 22-11-07 2134GMT ]
Filed by Nikola Cvetkovic under Other