Harris, Macron seek to patch up France-US ties

US Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday agreed on the importance of "absolutely critical" France-US ties, eager to project unity after a diplomatic storm caused by a ditched Australian submarine contract.

Macron was left furious in September when Australia ditched a deal to buy submarines from France in favour of nuclear-powered versions from the US, a deal which had been negotiated in secret. 

After weeks of anger in Paris, Macron held face-to-face talks with US President Joe Biden in Rome on October 29.

"I have to say we had a fruitful meeting in Rome a few days ago with President Biden which paved the way for the coming weeks, months and, I have to say, years," Macron told Harris. 

Facing each other over a table at the Elysee Palace in the French capital, Macron thanked Harris warmly for her presence for four days in Paris -- a long trip billed as a fence-mending exercise in Washington.

"We do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era. Our cooperation is absolutely critical for this era," Macron added in English, his voice affected by a sore throat.

The latter comment about "cooperation" was a reminder of France's desire to work closely with the United States on a range of issues from climate change to the Indo-Pacific region, where China's rise is a cause of a mutual concern.  

French officials have described their sense of betrayal over the submarine deal, which was termed a "stab in the back" and was seen as a setback for efforts to rebuild ties after years of tension under ex-president Donald Trump.