July 6, 2000

Deputy Director

Far Eastern Bureau

Asia-Pacific Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Paris, France

No1440/AS/EXT-ORT

Dear Sir,

Having received your letter from June 8, 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that I send you a reply.

France, along with the European Union, has been closely monitoring, since the very beginning, the development of the Chinese Government's campaign against Falun Gong.  Thus, we have been able to observe that, in this case, the Chinese Government has perpetrated actions that have abused on human rights.  The European Union has many times expressed its concern over this issue to the Chinese authorities.

France, as the chair of the European Union, will continue to let China understand the mutual position of the 15 member nations that form the European Union, especially during Sino-European human rights talks.

From this perspective, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will, of course, welcome any information you would like to provide.

Sir, please accept my highest regards.

(Signed)

Jean-Marie Magnien