Cameron in Washington for talks

British Prime Minister David Cameron was given a lavish official welcome to Washington DC today as he joined US President Barack Obama ahead of talks which will focus on Afghanistan and Syria.

The Prime Minister and wife Samantha received a 19-gun salute on the South Lawn of the White House before a crowd of 7,000.

Mr Cameron arrived in the US last night and took in a basketball game with the President in Ohio.

But today saw the start of official business with a ceremony laid on only for the most honoured guests to the American capital.

Sunshine blazed down from a clear blue spring sky as the Camerons and Obamas stepped out on to to the lawn to the sound of military bands.

Dignitaries including Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flanked the podium, where they were joined by Chancellor George Osborne and other senior members of the UK delegation.

Mr Obama hailed the relationship between the UK and the US as one of the ``greatest alliances the world has ever known''.

He added: “It’s now 200 years since the British came here to the White House, under somewhat different circumstances.”

“They made quite an impression – they really lit up the place,” he joked.

“But we have moved on and today, like so many presidents and prime ministers before us, we meet to reaffirm one of the greatest alliances the world has ever known.”

Mr Cameron described Britain's alliance with the US as a ``meeting of kindred spirits'' which would continue to endure.

“From the Balkans to Baghdad, across the world and across the decades, we have been proud to serve with you,” he said.

“When the chips are down, Britain and America know that we can always count on each other because we are allies, not just prepared to say the right thing, but to do the right thing and to do it in the right way.

“We can be sure that in 50 years time an American president and a British prime minister will stand here on this very spot. They will stand here for freedom and for enterprise – our two countries the united states of liberty and enterprise.”

Mr Cameron also sought to remind the Americans of the importance of their shared economic links at a time when Washington has been looking increasingly towards China and the Pacific.