French President Francois Hollande has arrived in the US for a state visit, as he and President Barack Obama tout their co-operation on issues from Iran to trade and climate change
Francois Hollande's trip is the first French state visit to the US since Jacques Chirac visited Bill Clinton in 1996
After French President Francois Hollande 's arrival on Feb 10,2014 Monday afternoon, he and US President Barack Obama flew to Monticello in the state of Virginia, the home of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of the US, an envoy to France, and the third US president.
The two toured Jefferson's home, now on the campus of the University of Virginia, stopping by his study, the kitchen and the quarters of slaves who helped build and run the estate
On Tuesday Feb 11,2014,French President Francois Hollande and US President Barack Obama will hold bilateral talks on -
- global economic recovery
- strengthening the Eurozone
- the French president's effort to boost the French economy
- Iran and
- other topics
After a joint news conference, French President Francois Hollande will have lunch with Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry at the state department.
In the evening, US President Barack Obama will play host to French President Francois Hollande for a lavish official state dinner at the White House.
At Tuesday's state dinner, the first at the White House since 2011,Francois Hollande and Barack Obama toasted the nations' centuries-old friendship.
With a glass of white wine in his hand, Barack Obama opened by quoting French writer Alexis de Tocqueville's impressions of 19th Century America, recalling to humorous effect his bafflement with American cuisine and his underwhelming impression of the White House.
"We Americans have grown to love all things French - the films, the food, the wine," Barack Obama continued. "But most of all, we love our French friends because we have stood together for our freedom for more than 200 years.
"Vive la France, God bless America, and long live the alliance between our great nations."
Speaking first in English, Francois Hollande acknowledged the sacrifice of the US soldiers who fought in France during World War Two and said that France felt America's pain at the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
Continuing in French, he praised French-US diplomatic and military co-operation in the Middle East and Africa, and said the two countries would work jointly for economic growth and to combat climate change.
Among the guests at Tuesday's state dinner were diplomats and dignitaries from both governments, as well as leaders in the media and business
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