French President Francois Hollande congratulated Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May on her appointment Wednesday and urged her to quickly begin talks on the country's divorce from the EU, the Elysee Palace said.

In a phone call, Hollande "reiterated his wish for the negotiations on Britain's departure from the European Union to be undertaken as soon as possible", the president's office said in a statement.

Both leaders also expressed their commitment to the further development of the amicable ties between both countries, it added.