French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Washington for a visit seen as a key step in easing the tensions between the two countries over France's opposition to the United States-led invasion of Iraq.
At a dinner at the White House, Mr Sarkozy said differences over Iraq should not weaken the alliance between the two countries.
US President George W Bush agreed, pointing to other issues on which France and the United States share a common position.
"French and American troops are helping to defend a young democracy in Afghanistan," Mr Bush said.
"Our two nations support the democratic Government of Lebanon. We agree that reconciliation and democracy in Iraq are vital to the future of the Middle East.
"Our two nations condemn violations of human rights in Darfur and Burma and around the world."
Addressing the French-American Business Council, Mr Sarkozy says he never quite understood why France had to fight with the US.
"There was a disagreement on the Iraq issue that is a reality, but this disagreement should not put into question the friendship, the alliance, the solidarity between our two countries," he said. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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