French PM Lobbies US on Weak Economy

While Nicolas Sarkozy struggles with the sputtering French economy at home, his prime minister has traveled to Washington to spur international action. François Fillon will meet with Ben Bernanke and Hank Paulson today, where he is expected to press the US on the subprime crisis, the weak dollar, and the need for an appreciation of the Chinese yuan, reports the AP.

In an interview with the New York Times, the French prime minister said that the US and Europe have to work together to get China to revalue its currency. The recent protests during the Olympic torch relay in Paris have stoked anti-French sentiment in China, making collaboration more important than ever. "There is political pressure to be put on China, with more chance of success if we’re united," Fillon said. (More Francois Fillon stories.)