Malcolm Turnbull, Emmanuel Macron announce Affinity framework

IT was all going so well. The French President bizarrely ended an otherwise straightforward press conference in Sydney with an odd comment about Mrs Turnbull.

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron gave an unusual description of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s wife during a press conference in Sydney today.

During a joint press conference discussing Australia and France’s joint co-operation, the French leader thanked the PM and his wife “delicious” wife Lucy for their warm welcome to Australia.

“I want to thank you for your welcome, you and your delicious wife for the warm welcome,” Mr Macron said as he stood by Mr Turnbull’s side on the lawn of Kirribilli House.

“Thanks to you and Lucy, thanks to you very much, Mr Prime Minister.”

The moment was quickly noticed on social media with many commenting on the odd descriptor.

Others questioned whether the comment was simply lost in translation.

"thank you and your delicious wife" - Macron pic.twitter.com/4v3lCHOsH1

— Jason Cutler (@JaseCutler) May 2, 2018

Did I hear @EmmanuelMacron just thanked PM @TurnbullMalcolm and his “delicious” wife? 😂😂😂

— St_KiKs (@St_KiKs) May 2, 2018

I think President Macron just described Lucy Turnbull as "delicious"

— Jamie Cummins (@jc_cummins) May 2, 2018

Macron’s English is really great, but I think he just called Turnbull’s wife “delicious” or maybe he was talking about wine. I can’t be sure. “Thank your delicious wife” does sound funny though. #funnypolitics #politics #Politics #Trade #economics #French #English #Australian

— Al (@Mlinarevic) May 2, 2018

Maybe something happened in the translation, but I'm pretty sure Macron just described Malcolm Turnbull's wife, Lucy, as "delicious".

— Ashleigh Wilson (@ashleighbwilson) May 2, 2018

The French President @EmmanuelMacron just referrened to @TurnbullMalcolm 's "delicious wife", in a slightly awkward mistranslation I imagine

— Nadia Daly (@nadiasdaly) May 2, 2018

The moment was captured as the two leaders unveiled a new era in defence and business co-operation.

The pair pledged closer cooptation in many areas including areas including the Pacific as well as cyber security at the press conference in Sydney.

Highlighting the two countries’ historical bonds, Mr Turnbull spoke of Australia and France’s commitment in the fight against terrorism, adding the two nations continued to stand shoulder to shoulder in that fight.

“We have agreed to host the next International Conference on terrorist financing, following on from the one President Macron hosted last week in Paris,” Mr Turnbull said.

“There must be no money for terror. We have to cut off their finances and, by doing so, we reduce and diminish their capability to do us harm.”

Mr Turnbull also revealed the pair discussed the two countries’ future submarine program during the French leader’s visit, which he said was laying the ground work for even deeper collaboration and defence.

“We are building together the world’s most advanced non-nuclear submarines for our Navy,” Mr Turnbull said.

“This $50 billion project represents the strategic partnership that will last for generations and, as the design matures and we start the building phase.”

Mr Macron met Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull at the Sydney Operat House Tuesday night. Picture: Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images

The leaders issued a joint vision statement which set a framework for a shared future of co-operation, joint ambition and innovation through the Australia-France initiative or Affinity.

“Affinity will strengthen our collaboration and usher in a new era of Australia-France co-operation,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It has always been a very cooperative and amicable relationship. A very positive relationship between good friends with shared values, but Mr President, your visit is taking it to new heights.”

Mr Turnbull said he and Mr Macron had charged their respective foreign ministers to take on the task of carrying the project forward and announced a number of ambitious new initiatives.

This includes a new agreement on mutual logistic support to better respond to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

The leaders also announced there would be a new defence industry symposium to strengthen defence and business co-operation as well as signing a letter of intent to enhance cyber security.

Mr Turnbull said this would improve information sharing and help authorities to better counter malicious cyber activities.

“We both have reaffirmed that the laws that apply offline should apply online,” Mr Turnbull said.

The joint announcement came on day two of a three-day tour of Australia.

Mr Macron arrived in Sydney on Tuesday evening before meeting with Mr and Mrs Turnbull at the Opera House for dinner.

The President spent the morning paying his respects to fallen French and Australian personnel from the first two Wold Wars at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial before talks on regional security and trade.

French President Emmanuel Macron enthusiastically thanked the Turnbulls at the pair’s press conference. Picture: Toby Zerna