Chirac bids adieu after 45 years in politics

After 45 years in politics, French President Jacques Chirac, long a champion of ties with China and well known for his interest in Chinese culture, is bidding goodbye.

In a televised address on Sunday night, Chirac, 74, who boasts one of the longest continuous political careers in Europe twice president, twice prime minister and 18 years as mayor of Paris said he was proud of what he had achieved, but would not stand again in next month's French presidential election.

"At the end of my mandate, the moment will have come for me to serve you otherwise. I will not seek your backing for a new mandate," he said in a somber, 10-minute speech.

Chirac, a vocal opponent of the US-led war in Iraq, is possibly best known in China for his unwavering support for closer ties between China and Europe.

While mayor of Paris in 1978, he became the first foreign politician to visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, hailing it as the eighth wonder of the world.

It was the first of Chirac's many trips to China; since becoming president, he has visited four times.

Analysts credit close bilateral ties to 12 years of pro-China policies by Chirac.

Former Chinese ambassador to France Wu Jianmin said Chirac reads books about China regularly and is often seen at exhibitions of Chinese art and artifacts in Paris.

Chirac's office is decorated with Chinese cultural relics including bronzes from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC) and a Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127-1279) sculpture of Guanyin, goddess of compassion and mercy.

"There are those who say China has no book to define itself, no Bible or Koran. They are wrong. History is their book. To understand China you must grasp its history," Chirac told reporters in Xi'an while on his latest trip to the country last October.

With news of Chirac's retirement spreading yesterday, China's online commentators heralded a leader they described as "amiable" and "fatherly".

One graduate said he appreciated "Chirac's efforts in the past few years to spearhead efforts to lift the unreasonable European arms embargo on China".

Agencies contributed to the story

Source: China Daily