French president Nicolas Sarkozy has addressed both Houses of Parliament during his first state visit to the UK.

Sarkozy paid tribute to Britain's long-standing democratic credentials, embodied by Parliament, in his address to MPs and peers.

He said France and the UK should work closely to address new challenges, just as they had in the 20th century since the signing of the entente cordiale.

Nuclear power, climate change and international relations were areas where the two countries could work even more closely in the future, he said.

"For the president of the