French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday made an impassioned plea for Europe and Russia to work as strategic partners as he made a lightning visit to St Petersburg.

"I have the conviction that Europe and Russia must work together in a strategic way, very closely, in a relationship of confidence," Sarkozy said in a keynote speech at the close of the St Petersburg economic forum.

"The Cold War is over. The Wall is finished. Russia is a great power, we are neighbours, we are destined to be friends, we must come closer to each other," he added.

Sarkozy, whose half-day visit to Russia's second city was aimed at bolstering France's business presence in Russia and signing an array of deals, lavished praise on his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

The president said he had confidence in Medvedev's words and particularly appreciated his country's decision to back a new round of sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council.

"Nothing would have been possible if he had not made this choice," said Sarkozy.

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