国际英语新闻：Coalition gov't takes country in historic new direction: new British PM

LONDON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government would take the country in an historic new direction, new British Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday afternoon.

Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, held their first joint press conference in Downing Street.

Cameron said their alliance represented a "historic and seismic shift" in the political landscape.

Britain's new Prime Minister Conservative party leader David Cameron (L) and his wife Samantha arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, on May 11, 2010. Cameron was appointed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as new prime minister.

The new administration would be united behind three key principles: freedom, fairness and responsibility, he said. It would have one key purpose - "to give our country the strong, stable and determined leadership that we need for the long term." Both parties had given full backing to coalition, Cameron said.

He also said "no government in modern times has ever been left with such a terrible economic inheritance."

The new prime minister said the two parties had a shared agenda and a shared resolve to tackle the challenges Britain faced.