France, Australia to work together to calm global crisis

France and Australia are working together to help calm the global financial crisis and push for reforms to prevent a recurrence, French state secretary for overseas affairs Yves Jego said Monday.
The crisis will be on the agenda at talks between Jego and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith when they meet later Monday during a one-day visit aimed at strengthening relations between the two nations.
The two men are due to discuss cooperation between France and Australia in preparation for a G20 summit to be held in Washington later this week aimed at easing the turmoil battering world markets and economies.
"The financial crisis is another reason for France and Australia to boost cooperation and work in closer partnership," Jego told a small group of reporters before the meeting.
"We want a full partnership with Australia as we share a common vision about working with the international community to emerge from the crisis," he said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is working hard to help the world emerge intact from the economic firestorm and to push through reforms to ensure that a similar financial meltdown never happens again, Jego said.