French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron tried to press the reset button on relations Tuesday despite disagreements on how to tackle the eurozone crisis.
As Hollande made his first official visit to Britain, the leaders of the nuclear armed Nato allies stressed their similarities on foreign policy issues including Syria, and made light of earlier rows over economic policy and tax.
Hollande, who was to meet Queen Elizabeth II after his talks with Cameron, joked about "British humour" when asked about the British premier's recent comment that he would "roll out the red carpet" for French tax exiles.
The socialist president said he understood Britain wanted to remain outside the euro, telling a joint press conference with Cameron: "We can see Europe as having different speeds, with each taking what it wants from the union."
Hollande also downplayed the Conservative prime minister's apparent snub when he made an election campaign visit to London in February.
Cameron meanwhile welcomed Hollande in French at the press conference, which followed talks and a working lunch at the British premier's official residence, 10 Downing Street.
"There will always be areas where we don't agree, but we've found much common ground today, not just about European common policy today but about how we develop European common policy in future," Cameron said.
Cameron said Britain "wants the euro area to have a strong and stable currency" and said he and Hollande agreed the steps made in Brussels by European Union leaders last month to tackle the single currency's debt crisis.
The French leader said Paris and London had "converging views" on key foreign policy issues such as Syria, and said they would be pushing Russia and China to back tougher action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.