China 'discouraging France trips'

Beijing's official tourism body is urging tour operators to stop selling holidays to France, the French foreign ministry has said.

The claim comes amid souring relations between the two countries after the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay.

Thousands of pro-Tibet protesters disrupted the event last month, and managed to extinguish the flame.

However Beijing said that it had "simply reminded Chinese tourists to be careful about their security."

Estimates suggest that about 700,000 tourists from mainland China visited France last year.

"Our embassy in Beijing is currently taking steps with the Chinese authorities to find out the reasons that could have motivated (the move)," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has suggested that he may boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympics, unless China started talks with the Dalai Lama.

And Chinese nationalists have called for a boycott of French goods.

The Olympic Torch relay was also disrupted a number of cities, including London and San Francisco.

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