Head to head: Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac

Tony Blair and President Chirac have sought to draw a line under disagreements on Iraq, emphasising plans to co-operate on global poverty and climate change.

At a joint press conference on Thursday afternoon, the two men played down their differences on the fallout from the Iraq war.

The British prime minister told journalists that both sides accepted they would always have their own "strong views" on foreign policy issues.

And President Chirac said France will "actively support and endorse Britain" in its EU and G8 presidencies during 2005.

The French head of state said there is "the same approach, the same vision, the same goals".

He said that Britain's priorities of climate change and Africa were "two of the most important questions we need to address for the future".

Blair added that the issue of Iran's nuclear programme illustrated how Europe could work together.

And there was also agreement on the need to push forward the Middle East peace process.

The prime minister said there was "consensus the world over" on a two state solution. "The bad news is that we are a long way from achieving that," he added.

"There is no issue the world over that causes such concern.

"I think there is a real opportunity to move this forward now if we are willing to take it."

Iraq row

Chirac also played down earlier comments that he was "not sure" the Iraq war had made the world a safer place.

The two governments "don't necessarily agree" on the war, he conceded. "We have a different analysis, we address things differently."

But the president added that the governments "should not look back over our shoulders and analyse the past".

A stable and democratic Iraq was now a "common objective".

The prime minister also glossed over the bitter differences between the two countries in the lead up to the Iraq war.

"On the question of Iraq, I think the differences at the time of the conflict were well known," said Blair.

"But both of us are now working under UN resolution 1546, both of us want to see a stable and democratic Iraq. And both of us will do what we can to ensure that that happens."

Transatlantic links

Chirac also highlighted the need for good links between Europe and the US, with Britain helping to bring the two sides together.

"Obviously for historical reasons and for cultural reasons and for linguistic reasons it is obvious that the relationships between the UK and US are like a family link," he said.

"Consequently the fact that the UK can be a friendly partner between the EU and US is an advantage to Europe.

"The US and Europe have a natural vocation to work together in the face of the major issues in the world of tomorrow."

Blair backed the president's views, saying the transatlantic alliance was "of fundamental importance".