New Delhi, Sep 3 - French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont Thursday offered condolences to the family of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy, who was killed in a chopper crash, and lauded him for his contribution to enriching the relationship between India and France.

'A highly respected statesman, Dr. Reddy had constantly worked towards enriching the historical relationship between France and Andhra Pradesh with a view to enhancing his state's potential for development,' the envoy said in a statement.

'The ambassador expresses his gratitude for Dr Reddy's special commitment. France shares the grief of Andhra Pradesh and the people of India,' the statement said.

The 60-year-old chief minister, popularly known as YSR for his initials, was going from Hyderabad to Chittoor, 588 km away, for a mass contact programme when his helicopter went missing in bad weather around 9.30 a.m. Wednesday in the dense forest range. His body was found Thursday.