Macron pledges to protect France's Asian community

World
Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday pledged to step up efforts for the well-being of the Asian community in France.

In a speech in Paris to mark the Chinese New Year, he promised tougher security after a number of violent attacks on Chinese people in the French capital in recent years.

"The criminal intentions that have led someone to attack your community have been condemned the most strongly and will continue to be condemned," he told a gathering of hundreds of Asian entrepreneurs, lawyers, business people and diplomats.

The president said he had reinforced schemes in the neighborhoods where the attacks were committed.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to members of France's Asian community to mark Chinese New Year, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Feb. 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

France has long been a favorite destination of Chinese tourists, but it lost some of its luster in 2015 and 2016, with three major terror attacks dealing a blow to its carefree image.

France's ethnic Chinese population have long suffered casual racism and been stereotyped as easy targets for crime, according to the BBC. There has been a trend of Chinese tour groups being targeted by thieves. In one case, Chinese tourists were robbed in a Parisian hotel car park by four attackers armed with tear gas in November.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to members of France's Asian community to mark Chinese New Year, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Feb. 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

Macron denounced the French stereotyping of Asians, and promised to prioritize the economy for Asian entrepreneurs, who he said want to "go further and harder to seize every opportunity."

The French president also reiterated his plan for an annual visit to China, and said he hoped to tour not only Asia’s cities but also its rural provinces.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

8227km