Washington: The US and France stand together in their fight against terrorism and nuclear proliferation, French President Francois Hollande today said here.
Hollande, on a state visit to US, addressed the White House as his American counterpart Barack Obama welcomed him.
"We stand together to fight terrorism," Hollande said.
"Today still, France and the United States stand side by side to make these values prevail. We stand together with the United States to address the threats of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons, together to solve the crises faced by the Middle East, together to support
Africa`s development, and together to fight global warming and climate change," he said.
"Today we stand united, and we have built a model of friendship, a friendship that is the best recipe for a better world, a world such as the one that was dreamt by Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette," he said.
"Mr President, like generations before us, we now have the task not simply to preserve our enduring alliance but to make it anew for our time," Obama said.
"To our French friends, I say let`s do even more together, for the security that our citizens deserve, for the prosperity that they seek and for the dignity of people around the world who seek what we declared two centuries ago, those unalienable rights, those sacred rights of man," he said.
Asserting no particular nation is in a position to meet the current challenges alone or seize its opportunities, Obama said more nations should step up and meet leadership responsibilities.
"No one nation can meet today`s challenges alone or seize its opportunities. More nations must step up and meet the responsibilities of leadership, and that is what the United States and France are doing together," he said in opening remarks, Hollande by his side.
Obama hailed the "courage and resolve" of Hollande in foreign policy matters, saying: "From Mali to Syria and Iran, you have shown courage and resolve, and I want to thank you for your leadership and being a strong partner to the United States."
Obama said he will travel to France to observe the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June.
In his remarks at the joint press conference, Hollande said the two countries hold universal values - that inspired Eleanor Roosevelt and Rene Cassin to write together the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He said "it is not just about friendship, it is about an alliance that will enable us to make this world a better place, a safer place, a more humane place".
Obama and Hollande both highlighted the long-standing bilateral ties and the role they have played in shaping their respective histories.
"We stand here because of each other," Obama said. "We owe our freedom to each other."
Hollande, speaking in both French and English, echoed similar views and said:
"Each of our countries knows what it owes to each other - its freedom."
The French President was greeted with a 21-gun salute and full military honours on the South Lawn of the White House, before a day of talks on issues ranging from Iran to climate change, trade to combating Islamist threats.
The highly anticipated visit - taking place amid speculations about problems in Hollande`s personal life - is the 59-year-old`s second to the US since taking office in 2012.
