France's president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy will engage in his first international diplomatic meeting on Friday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Both leaders, who are in their 50s, have a good relationship and share similar views on various issues, including the European constitutional treaty. They will discuss important upcoming European Union and G8 meetings, starting at 1530 GMT after Blair meets with outgoing President Jacques Chirac. Blair's spokesman stated that discussions will focus on topics such as the EU treaty and climate change agenda from the Gleneagles summit. Blair, who will leave office on June 27, publicly welcomed Sarkozy's election with a message in French on YouTube. He stated that the success of the right-winger provided a great opportunity for Britain and France to collaborate in the future. Sarkozy is pushing for a less ambitious treaty to be approved by parliament instead of holding another referendum on the constitution. Blair's spokesperson mentioned that they will discuss this matter with Sarkozy, but Blair himself supports an amended treaty over a full constitution. Merkel, who Sarkozy will meet with next week, has made reviving the charter a top priority of her EU presidency. Sarkozy has emphasized his intention to address the remaining doubts stemming from France's strong opposition to the U.S.- and British-led war in Iraq. He has made enhancing relationships with Washington and London a top priority. His visit to Berlin next Wednesday, the day he assumes office, highlights his acknowledgment of the significance of the traditional alliance with Germany. German government spokesman Thomas Steg described this as a powerful symbol of Franco-German friendship.