CCTV9英语新闻：卡梅伦开启欧洲之旅欲推动欧盟改革

PARIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande on Thursday received British Prime Minister David Cameron who started a European tour to build support for EU reforms before EU membership in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

French President Francois Hollande (R) and British Prime Minister David Cameron attend a press conference in Paris, France, on May 28, 2015. French President Francois Hollande on Thursday received British Prime Minister David Cameron who started a European tour to build support for EU reforms before EU membership in-out referendum by the end of 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei)

"France wants the UK to remain in the European Union. We think it's in the interest of Europe and in the interest of the United Kingdom to be together but the people must always be respected," Hollande said.

"David Cameron will present his proposals and we'll discuss them and we'll see how we can advance," he said in remarks posted on the daily Le Figaro website.

Cameron called on his European partners to be "flexible and imaginative," to back "changes ... that will benefit not just Britain, but the rest of Europe, too."

Cameron visited Paris to renegotiate terms of Britain's membership in the European bloc, suggesting mainly tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits and exemption for Britain from the EU drive for closer union.

After Paris, Cameron will meet Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

British Prime Minister David Cameron attends a press conference in Paris, France, on May 28, 2015. French President Francois Hollande on Thursday received British Prime Minister David Cameron who started a European tour to build support for EU reforms before EU membership in-out referendum by the end of 2017.