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Britain wants to set up joint diplomatic missions in foreign countries with Canada, British Foreign Secretary William Hague says, amid reports that London wants to rally forces against the European Union.

Hague said the joint missions that might in the future also involve Australia and New Zealand will give Britain "a bigger reach abroad for less cost."

Hague, who is visiting Canada, said he will announce the details of the plan after a meeting with his Canadian counterpart John Bird in Ottawa on Monday.

The Foreign Secretary said Canada and Britain are "first cousins" that is two nations "under one Queen and united by one set of values."

"So it is natural that we look to link up our embassies with Canada's in places where that suits both countries. It will give us a bigger reach abroad for our businesses and people for less cost," he added.

The two countries reportedly seek to share diplomatic missions in third countries where one of them does not have an embassy.

This comes as there are speculations that the main aim of London is rather to create a worldwide network of Commonwealth nations to combine their influence and resources to rival the EU as a foreign superpower.

"There is a saying in the British diplomatic corps that the French want to do us over, the Germans want to lord it over us and the Italians are all over the place," media reports quoted a British diplomat as saying.

"We would never dream of trusting them with intelligence secrets, but we share everything with the Canadians, Aussies and Kiwis. Brussels can extend its diplomatic reach - well, so can we," the diplomat added.