France and China are sharing their environmental concepts and working together on a green Olympics this summer in Beijing.

Herve Ladsous, French ambassador to China, said green technologies are important not only in the Beijing Games, but also to the world because "the challenge is a planet-wide situation that needs to be addressed".

The two countries are already cooperating on green technologies. They issued a joint statement on climate change last November.

A promising and important cooperation project is in the making in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Ladsous said, which will provide a fleet of 500 taxis with electric power.

"We`re still at the beginning," he said, but it will eventually bring the Chinese people and companies together to provide a solution to public transport.

"Hopefully there will be positive results in the latter half of the year," he added.

French information technology and public facility companies - including Alstom, ASK, Atos Origin, and Thals - have provided technical and engineering assistance to Beijing and the Olympic Games, including for new subway lines, the National Stadium and the "Water Cube".

Golden dreams

According to Ladsous, France`s Olympic delegation will comprise about 500 people, including 309 athletes.

France has traditionally been strong in sailing, equestrian events, judo, the pentathlon, swimming, fencing, canoeing and kayaking. The flag bearer of the French delegation will be Tony Estanguet, who won two kayak gold medals in Athens in 2004 and arrived in Beijing last month.

Other gold medal hopefuls include Nicolas Touzaint in the equestrian competition and Laure Manaudou in swimming, and others sailing in Qingdao, said Patrick Dutartre, counselor and special attach for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

France won 33 medals four years ago in Athens, including 11 gold medals, ranking it seventh on the total medal list.

Another 200 people will attend the Paralympics, including around 80 athletes. "We`re hoping for the best," said the ambassador, but as one French philosopher put it, there is always "the glorious uncertainty in sport".

The French have made careful preparations for the Games. Many of its athletes are in China training and competing in the Good Luck Beijing events.

The French swimming team has trained in Dalian, the equestrian team in Hong Kong, the kayak team in Shunyi of Beijing and the sailing teams in Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province.

Dutarte and his colleagues are expecting a "busy month" in August, helping with arrangements including flight tickets and accommodation for the coming offshore delegations.

During the Games, 15 other French delegations formed by supporters, sponsors, personalities from varied fields and professional groups from different regions are coming to China.

On August 9, heads and other representatives of 57 delegations to the Olympics will be taking part in a Francophone gathering.

"The French language has a very specific place in the Olympic movement," said the ambassador.

Pierre de Coubertin

French was the language originally used in the Olympic Charter when Baron Pierre de Coubertin launched the modern Olympic movement in the late 19th century.

Apart from improving understanding and showcasing the popularity of French, the participants are expected to further cooperation between developed and developing regions within the French-language community.

As France holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, they will also be coordinating other European delegations and organize activities for them.