Yesterday,
I had the great honour of meeting with Mr Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of
France, who later met David Cameron, before going on to address London’s
financial community at the Guildhall, at the heart of the City of London.
Leading a
delegation of French business leaders working in the UK, I was privileged to
take part in some highly productive discussions on the challenges facing our
two economies. I was struck in particular by the French Prime Minister’s
eagerness to listen.
In taking
the time to consult with us, Mr Valls demonstrated his commitment to handling
the challenges faced by France, the world’s fifth largest economy. He was
very obviously keen to hear the views of business leaders, widely experienced
in international trade and accustomed to dealing with the challenges which face
our two countries in a globalised economy.
