Franco-British Summit to be Held on February 4

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 30, 2002

Franco-British Summit to be Held on February 4

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The traditional December Franco-British summit, put off last month following a spat between French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is to be held on Feb. 4 in northern France.

Chirac and Blair both agreed to this date during a talk on phone at the occasion of Chirac's 70th birthday, said French presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna.

A rift hurt the relation between Chirac and Blair during the European summit in Brussels on Oct. 24 and 25 when the two had a "vigorous exchange of views" on reforming the European common agricultural policy.

Blair criticized that France and Germany had struck a "precooked summit deal" to preserve generous farm aid and delay for many years the reform long sought by Britain.

Chirac reportedly told Blair: "I have never been spoken like that before. You were very rude."

The French authorities then decided to put off the annual bilateral meeting, previously scheduled for Dec. 3 in northern French town of Le Touquet, to an indefinite date.

During the NATO summit in Prague on Nov. 22, Chirac and Blair reportedly had several friendly conversations. One week ago, Blairsent a "Churchill" pen to Chirac as a birthday gift.

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