Mar 31, 2009, 10:55 GMT
The president of Mexico has praised Britain's Queen Elizabeth for her "composure and wisdom".
Felipe Calderon - who is in London for the G20 summit - gushed about the 82-year-old monarch in his speech at a state banquet held in his honour at Buckingham Palace last night (30.03.09).
He said: "On this singular occasion I want to express my personal admiration for the composure and wisdom with which you have led the institutional life of England during the critical moments this great nation and the world have faced.
"This country is also the cradle of economic thinking and free markets that today also permit the sharing of ideas and scientific progress.
"The world would not be the same without the British genius. Your language is the Latin of the modern era and allows dialogue and co-operation between all the peoples on the planet."
Before Calderon's speech, the queen praised ties between the UK and Mexico and promised to support the president.
She said: "Mr. President you have often spoken of your wish to see more of Mexico in the world and more of the world in Mexico.
"You may be assured of the United Kingdom's support for your country's important, emerging economy to play a fuller role in today's world."
The queen also presented the head of state with a strange gift - George Orwell's classic dystopian novel '1984'.
She also gave him framed photographs of herself and husband Prince Philip.
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