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Brown sets out closer French ties Brown seeks 'Entente Formidable'
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has announced a series of measures to deepen and strengthen Britain's ties with France saying he wanted an "entente formidable". Gordon Brown has announced a series of measures to deepen and strengthen Britain's ties with France saying he wanted an "Entente Formidable".
The two countries will hold regular bilateral summits - and will vote together for reform of international institutions.The two countries will hold regular bilateral summits - and will vote together for reform of international institutions.
They will also step up cooperation on immigration and defence. They will also step up coopoeration on immigration, defence and the economy.
Mr Brown is holding talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Arsenal's football stadium in London. Mr Brown has held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Arsenal's football stadium in London.
The Browns earlier gave the Sarkozys a tour of Downing Street. Ms Bruni is attending a charity lunch with Mrs Brown during the summit. The prime minister said the two leaders would be pressing for a "co-ordinated approach" in the international financial community to encourage transparency and stop "off balance sheet behaviour".
And he set out a range of other issues on which he said Britain would be cooperating with France - including action on climate change, Darfur, Burma and Afghanistan.
Mr Brown added: "We share the same vision about the future of Europe. We believe that Europe has got to be a global Europe."
We need the British to get Europe moving Nicolas Sarkozy Analysis: Sarkozy woos UK Why the 'entente nucleaire'?Brown 'got lost' banquet
Mr Sarkozy called on Britain to play a fuller role in the EU, on issues such as immigration and the Lisbon treaty, rather than "being on the sidelines".
"We need the British to get Europe moving," he told reporters at a joint press conference.
But he also stressed that - although he and Mr Brown were at different ends of the spectrum politically - they were "on the same wavelength" personally.
Asked if the closeness with France demonstrated during Mr Sarkozy's visit would last, Mr Sarkozy joked: "It is more than a one-night stand, we will go into the next day breakfast."
World Cup
Gordon Brown and wife Sarah had earlier given President Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni a tour of Downing Street. Ms Bruni is attending a charity lunch with Mrs Brown during the summit.
The two women are dining with other wives of senior French and British politicians at Lancaster House, in aid of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.The two women are dining with other wives of senior French and British politicians at Lancaster House, in aid of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.
Mr Sarkozy and Mr Brown, meanwhile, met Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium in North London.Mr Sarkozy and Mr Brown, meanwhile, met Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium in North London.
Two democracies, two lands of freedom, two lands of justice, two lands of solidarity Nicolas Sarkozy on Anglo-French relations Analysis: Sarkozy woos UK Why the 'entente nucleaire'?Brown 'got lost' banquet
Speaking to reporters on the pitch ahead of formal talks, Mr Brown announced a joint British-Franco initiative to help to bring education to 16 million children in Africa.Speaking to reporters on the pitch ahead of formal talks, Mr Brown announced a joint British-Franco initiative to help to bring education to 16 million children in Africa.
He also announced a joint initiative between the two governments, the Football Association, Premier League and FIFA, to improve educational opportunities leading up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.He also announced a joint initiative between the two governments, the Football Association, Premier League and FIFA, to improve educational opportunities leading up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Mr Brown said: "We will look to the World Cup in 2010 and the first match in the World Cup to be able to say that millions of children have gained opportunities over the course of the two years leading up to the World Cup."
State banquetState banquet
Asked for his comments, Mr Sarkozy, replied in English: "I agree with Gordon."
The two leaders also met members of Arsenal's youth team who greeted the French President in his native tongue.The two leaders also met members of Arsenal's youth team who greeted the French President in his native tongue.
It is the first state visit by French President for 12 years - but many of the headlines in British newspapers have been grabbed by Ms Bruni.It is the first state visit by French President for 12 years - but many of the headlines in British newspapers have been grabbed by Ms Bruni.
The supermodel-turned-singer was the centre of attention at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening, where she chatted with members of the Royal Family.The supermodel-turned-singer was the centre of attention at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening, where she chatted with members of the Royal Family.
Before arriving in Downing Street on Thursday morning, Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni laid a wreath and observed a minute's silence by a statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Carlton Gardens, off Pall Mall, in central London.Before arriving in Downing Street on Thursday morning, Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni laid a wreath and observed a minute's silence by a statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Carlton Gardens, off Pall Mall, in central London.
'British dynamism''British dynamism'
In their bilateral talks, Mr Brown and Mr Sarkozy will discuss further measures to tackle illegal immigration including enhanced borders guards at Calais and joint asylum expulsion flights.In their bilateral talks, Mr Brown and Mr Sarkozy will discuss further measures to tackle illegal immigration including enhanced borders guards at Calais and joint asylum expulsion flights.
They are also expected to speak about measures to tackle global financial instability and announce new co-operation on nuclear energy.They are also expected to speak about measures to tackle global financial instability and announce new co-operation on nuclear energy.
During a historic speech to both houses of the UK Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Sarkozy hailed the historic friendship between Britain and France.During a historic speech to both houses of the UK Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Sarkozy hailed the historic friendship between Britain and France.
Looking to the future, he said that instead of the famed "Entente Cordiale", there should be an "Entente Amicale", with France and the UK working together on energy, immigration, security and defence.Looking to the future, he said that instead of the famed "Entente Cordiale", there should be an "Entente Amicale", with France and the UK working together on energy, immigration, security and defence.
He also said more "British dynamism" was needed to reform the European Union, hinting that France might be open to changing the Common Agricultural Policy.He also said more "British dynamism" was needed to reform the European Union, hinting that France might be open to changing the Common Agricultural Policy.
He hailed the "exemplary" bilateral efforts to tackle illegal immigration but repeated his call for a common EU immigration "pact" - likely to be a key theme of France's EU Presidency in July.He hailed the "exemplary" bilateral efforts to tackle illegal immigration but repeated his call for a common EU immigration "pact" - likely to be a key theme of France's EU Presidency in July.
Mr Sarkozy also proposed increasing his country's commitment in Afghanistan at a Nato summit in Bucharest next week.Mr Sarkozy also proposed increasing his country's commitment in Afghanistan at a Nato summit in Bucharest next week.