PARIS, May 19 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid public tribute on Monday to victims of China's earthquake, a move likely to help ease tensions with Beijing sparked by protests during the Olympic torch's passage through Paris.

Sarkozy signed a book of condolences at the Chinese embassy in Paris for the tens of thousands killed in last week's earthquake.

"I wanted to come to your embassy to say how close we feel to you, the Chinese people, what irreparable damage this catastrophe has caused, and how close we feel to the pain of the families," he told reporters.

French relations with Olympic host China were strained after thousands of pro-Tibet protesters forced the Olympic flame to be extinguished during the Paris leg of its relay around the world last month.

Demonstrators responded by staging rallies in several Chinese cities calling for a boycott of French goods. (Reporting by Brian Rohan, writing by Swaha Pattanaik; editing by Keith Weir)

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