WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicholas Sarkozy arrived at Andrews air base outside Washington Tuesday, kicking off his first official visit to the United States.

    Sarkozy, accompanied by four ministers, including Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, was expected to meet first with business leaders from the French American Business Council, decorate World War II veterans and meet the French community in Washington.

    Sarkozy was to be the guest of honor at a glittering official dinner hosted by U.S. President Georege W. Bush later Tuesday.

    He is due to address the two chambers of Congress on Wednesday.

    After addressing the Congress, the French leader will join Bush for talks to be held in Mount Vernon, the historic residence of the first U.S. president George Washington.

    The two leaders were reportedly to discuss "all the main international dossiers, whether regional crises or big strategic questions."

    Bush and Sarkozy met in August in the casual setting of the oceanside Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine during the French president's vacations. They also met on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Germany in June.