Two French envoys are going to China to deliver messages from President Sarkozy at a time of strained relations between the two nations.

The envoys are former premier Jean-Pierre Raffarin who is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday with a message from Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as one from his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. Raffarin, who has been a frequent visitor to China for the past 20 years, is due to meet the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Thursday, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, the French president's top diplomatic adviser, Jean-David Levitte, was also scheduled to travel to China at the weekend, also carrying a message from Sarkozy.

This sudden diplomatic activity comes after protests in several Chinese cities on Saturday forced French retailer Carrefour to shut down its stores. Carrefour was boycotted by Chinese consumers when France called on China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama in order to end the conflict in Tibet.

Ties between the two countries became strained after the chaotic Olympic torch relay in Paris where human rights activists and pro-Tibet supporters took to the streets to protest Beijing's human rights record.

SM/HAR