Britain, US hail 'special relationship'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 20, 2003

Britain, US hail 'special relationship'

Britain and the United States on Wednesday hailed their long-standing "special relationship," vowing to stand firm together to secure a peaceful world.

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Britain and the United States on Wednesday hailed their long-standing "special relationship," vowing to stand firm together to secure a peaceful world.

"We share the confidence, and the courage, to try to make this a more prosperous, a safer and above all, a free world," the British Queen Elizabeth II spoke at a Buckingham Palace state banquet in honor of the US President George W. Bush, who came here Tuesday evening for a three-day state visit.

"The two countries have never been closer...Our two countries stand firm in their determination to defeat terrorism," the Queen told a group of invited guests.

The breath of the partnership meant that disputes "can be quickly overcome and forgiven," she added.

In a return toast, Bush said the United States and Britain had a long history of fighting together in defense of common values and "once again we're acting to secure the peace of the world."

Bush, whose handling of Iraq was strongly disapproved by most Britons, declared earlier that the British and American people were united in an "alliance of values" as he sought to defend the US-led war against Iraq, which Britain joined by sending about 45,000 troops to the Gulf region.

Bush's visit to Britain was overshadowed by fears of terror attacks and anti-war demonstrations.

Bush was expected to meet with his staunchest ally British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday at Downing Street for talks that would focus on Iraq.

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