The Chinese version of Nicolas Sarkozy's new book has been
published in China ahead of his first state visit to the nation
since he became French president in May.
More than 5,000 copies of the book, entitled Testimony, are to
go on sale in major bookstores in Beijing and Shanghai starting
Tuesday or Wednesday, said Gu Jinliang, a distribution manager of
the Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, the Chinese
publisher of the book.
"We hope Chinese readers can learn more about the new French
president and France through the 215-page book," Gu said
Monday.
Five thousand copies of the book have been produced ahead of the
visit.
"If the book sells well, we'll publish more," Gu said.
The book was translated by Cao Songhao, a senior Chinese
translator who has previously rendered into Chinese the biographies
of three former French presidents: Charles de Gaulle, Francois
Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.
Sarkozy will pay a state visit to China from November 25 to 27
at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced last week.
Liu told a regular press briefing that the visit will be an
important event for China-France relations.
Since the original version of Testimony was published in July
2006, the book has sold more than 300,000 copies in France
alone.
In the book, the 52-year-old Sarkozy recounts how he pushed
through difficult reforms as a minister, describes his plans for
further reforms during his presidency, talks about his political
opponents, and discusses his relationships with Chirac and Cecilia,
Sarkozy's briefly estranged wife.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)