国际英语新闻：British, French leaders laud close ties

LONDON, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Britain and France on Friday praised their nations' ties during the Second World War, as they celebrated the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's radio appeal to his fellow citizens to resist Nazi occupation.

In a ceremony in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the "great relationship" with France and the cross-Channel ties "forged through fierce trials" in the last century.

"Today is a reminder that Britain and France are not just neighbors in the geographical sense but also in the emotional sense," he added.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the decision to let de Gaulle make the appeal from London -- initially opposed by the British cabinet but championed by premier Winston Churchill -- " made possible the very existence of the French resistance."

The two leaders also held an hour of talks later at Downing Street, focusing on efforts to boost European growth, the conflict in Afghanistan and other foreign affairs.

Sarkozy paid a state visit to Britain in March 2008.