Prime Minister Liz Truss called Emmanuel Macron a “friend” as they announced plans to work together at the first meeting of a new political club of nations.
Ms Truss had refused to say whether the French president was a “friend or foe” during her leadership campaign.
The French President said he hoped for a “new phase” in post-Brexit relations.
The pair agreed to step up cooperation on “terminating” small boat crossings in the English Channel ahead of a summit in 2023.
Heads of state and government from the EU, UK, Turkey, Norway and the Balkans met at the first European Political Community in Prague on Thursday.
They discussed energy, migration and security, with a particular focus on the war in Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke via video link.
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The summit, billed as the European Political Community outside the EU, was championed by Mr Macron, who told reporters on Thursday he sent a “message of unity”.
It seems to have proved fruitful in terms of facilitating bilateral meetings for Ms. Truss.
The PM and Mr Macron released a joint statement promising an “ambitious” package of measures aimed at “ending” small boat crossings on the canal.
It is understood that the Home Secretary will provide further details “in due course”.
The two leaders also announced plans to hold a UK-France summit in France in 2023 “to drive a renewed bilateral agenda”.
Mr Macron said: “We have values and a history so I’m glad we meet again.
“This is an island, but this island hasn’t moved away from the rest of the continent, so we have so many things in common.”
The UK and France have clashed over a number of issues in recent years, including migrant boat crossings in the English Channel, a military pact between Britain, the US and Australia and Brexit measures involving Northern Ireland.
And during the Tory leadership campaign, Ms Truss said the “jury is still undecided” on Mr Macron, adding she would judge him on “deeds, not words”.
Even within the EU, there had been skepticism about the new forum, fearing it might turn into shop-talk.
In the run-up to the meeting, Ms. Truss made it clear that it was “not an EU construct or an EU alternative”.
She later told broadcasters the meeting was “not about getting closer to Europe” but “to work with Europe on issues that we both face”.
The President of Ukraine said at the summit: “You and I are now in a strong position to use all possible power of Europe to end the war and guarantee long-term peace for Ukraine, for Europe and for the world.”
After the meetings, Ms Truss said: “Leaders are exiting this summit with greater collective determination to stand up to Russian aggression.
“What we saw in Prague is a strong sign of solidarity with Ukraine and for the principles of freedom and democracy.”
The UK is now expected to host the fourth EPC meeting in 2024, while Moldova and Spain will host the second and third respectively.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog that in the wake of Russia’s invasion there was a need to “rethink and reform the broader European order, beyond the work of the EU and NATO,” but he added that the summit this would do no more than a first exchange.
In addition to the UK, non-EU members Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Western Balkan countries attended the first EPC meeting.
Critics see it as a vague rehash of old ideas. His exact role is still evolving.
Proposing the plan earlier this year, Mr Macron said it would provide “a platform for policy coordination” for countries, both those in the EU and those that aren’t.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine gave new impetus to cooperation between nations beyond the 27 EU member states.
But the EPC has no institutions or dedicated staff. This has led to questions about how decisions would be implemented.
So it’s an unprecedented effort to bring together leaders from across the continent to discuss areas of common interest. If it proves successful, it can be continued up to twice a year. If it’s a mistake, it could fizzle out.
Another attraction for the UK was the presence of Turkish politician Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the participation of Norway, a major energy supplier to the UK.
The UK was less interested in talking about security, with nervousness that the EPC could be seen as somehow breaching the NATO military alliance.
Turkey has spoken of a “balanced” approach to Russia and has not endorsed Western sanctions.
The director of the Center for European Reforms, Charles Grant, said one of the measures of success will be “that it makes Serbia, Azerbaijan and Turkey lean a little bit more to the west and less to Russia”.
A sign of the uncertainty about what the EPC really is for is that there have been far clearer statements about what it is not.
They say it is not a replacement for NATO or the G7. Nor is it a somewhat cozier “waiting room” for countries aspiring to join the EU. Nor is it a forum dominated by EU institutions.
And this despite the fact that the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has issued invitations, while the meeting itself has been pinned to the front of an EU summit.
Brussels insists it merely made the forum possible – it’s not “the EU plus plus,” a senior official stressed.
British officials are keen to keep their cool on the EPC and insist they walk away if it goes in an undesirable direction.
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