France and Britain are committed to cooperate on the future development of a new generation of nuclear power plants, the two countries' leaders vowed Thursday.

During a state visit to Britain French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed an accord with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, promoting nuclear energy.

Brown and his guest are set to discuss a wide range of topics in an Anglo-French summit meeting scheduled for early Thursday afternoon.

On the agenda are issues ranging from cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration, the fight against terrorism as well as strengthening the military mission against the resurgence of Afghanistan's Taliban fighters.

Brown and Sarkozy on Wednesday stressed their mutual wish to lift bilateral relations onto a new level.

Speaking in front of both chambers of the British Parliament, Sarkozy expressed his wish for a new 'Entente Amicale', an Anglo-French brotherhood for the 21st century.

Sarkozy's wife, Italian-French singer Carla, who had drawn the British media's full attention since the beginning of their visit Wednesday, met with Brown's wife Sarah.

At a charity event the two wives plan to pledge their support for an initiative aiding pregnant women in developing countries.

The French first couple joined British Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Windsor castle Wednesday evening. The Queen said France and Britain had a respectful, but competitive relationship.

Relations between the predecessors of Brown and Sarkozy, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac had been overshadowed by differences over the Iraq war.