Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) welcomed Nicolas Sarkozy to the Capitol “in friendship” Tuesday, telling reporters that she would discuss Democrats’ legislative plans for financial regulatory reform as well as climate change and global economic and security issues with the French president.

“I look forward to our conversation regarding the security of both of our countries,” Pelosi said, adding that the discussion in her office also would cover the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cooperative efforts in Afghanistan and economic security, a topic on which she said Sarkozy had been a particularly “strong leader.”

Sarkozy, who addressed a joint session of Congress in 2007, said through a translator that he was “so happy” to be back at the Capitol and lauded Pelosi as a “great and wonderful symbol” for the world because of her role as a female legislative leader.

Before his meeting with Pelosi, Sarkozy met at the Capitol with Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.). Kerry told reporters that their discussion centered on climate change and Iran sanctions.

Pelosi, who returned to Washington, D.C., after a health care victory lap in San Francisco that included a Sunday speech to a filled-to-capacity church, is expected to return to California after the meeting in time for another event Wednesday touting Democrats’ recent health care victory.

Sarkozy will meet later Tuesday at the White House with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden before capping his two-day U.S. trip with a private dinner with the president and first lady.