(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-27 10:15

LONDON -- President Nicolas Sarkozy called for France and Britain to open a new chapter in cross-Channel ties Wednesday as he and his glamorous new wife received a royal welcome in London.

Sarkozy made a rare address to a joint session of both of Britain's Houses of Parliament, enjoyed a state banquet at Windsor Castle and received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy arrive at London's Heathrow Airport March 26 2008. Sarkozy called for France and Britain to open a new chapter in their long-fractious ties Wednesday, as he received a red-carpet welcome in London with his glamorous new wife. [Agencies]

"In the name of the French people, I am here to propose to the British people that together we write a new page of our shared history, a page of a new Franco-British fraternity," he told lawmakers at the Palace of Westminster.

Srakozy's most concrete pledge was an offer to bolster France's existing presence of 1,600 troops in Afghanistan, where they will join British forces in the frontline battle against a resurgent Taliban militia.

"We cannot accept that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda return to Kabul. Defeat is not an option, even if victory will be difficult," the president said.

He gave no figure for the number of extra troops to be deployed or where in Afghanistan they would be posted, although sources in Paris have said it will be over 1,000 soldiers. Details are expected at a NATO summit next week.

Sarkozy hopes the two-day state visit -- the first such trip by a French leader in 12 years -- will help repair his image as a statesman, after a slump in polls at home following criticism of his flashy style.

But much attention was also focused on model-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, whom he married in February and who accompanied him to the formal banquet with the royal family and senior British figures.

At the dinner, the queen told the more than 150 guests that Britain and France "stand ready to face the global challenges ahead, knowing that when we work together we can produce effective and enduring results."

Earlier, on their arrival at London's Heathrow Airport, the French leader and his wife -- dressed in an sobre yet elegant grey Christian Dior outfit with matching beret -- were greeted by Prince Charles and his second wife Camilla.

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