Germany's new foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, is due to hold talks in London today with the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook.

Mr Fischer, who is on his first foreign tour since taking office, met the French foreign minister, Hubert Vedrine, in Paris yesterday.

Mr Fischer said despite differences on some issues, including European Union funding, there were good prospects for reaching joint solutions.

Later today he goes on to Warsaw for talks with the Polish prime minister, Jerzy Buzek.

Correspondents say the new German government is keen to show its neighbours that it wants to maintain its traditional foreign policy.