US News

Bush, Sarkozy set White House meeting in November

Oct 19, 2007, 14:19 GMT

President George W. Bush (R) speaks during a meeting with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington DC., USA on 18 October 2007. EPA/MARK WILSON/POOL

Washington - US President George W Bush will host French President Nicolas Sarkozy for wide-ranging talks next month, the White House said Friday, marking the latest sign of revived ties between the two governments.

In the French leader's first official visit to Washington, Bush will host a White House dinner on November 6 and hold talks with Sarkozy on November 7 at Mount Vernon, the historic home of first US president George Washington.

The leaders plan to discuss efforts to keep Iran from building nuclear weapons, bring peace to the Middle East, stabilise Afghanistan and uphold democracy in Lebanon, a White House statement said.

Darfur, Burma, Kosovo and the war on terrorism are other topics on the agenda.

Bush also wants to reaffirm the 'deep historical bonds' between the United States and France, rooted in French support for the American colonies during the 18th-century war of independence from Britain.