French President Francois Hollande (R) accompanies Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron as he leaves the Elysee Palace after a meeting in Paris, France, May 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - French President Francois Hollande on Thursday received British Prime Minister David Cameron who started a European tour to build support for EU reforms before EU membership in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

"France wants the UK to remain in the European Union. We think it's in the interest of Europe and in the interest of the United Kingdom to be together but the people must always be respected," Hollande said.

"David Cameron will present his proposals and we'll discuss them and we'll see how we can advance," he said in remarks posted on the daily Le Figaro website.

Cameron called on his European partners to be "flexible and imaginative," to back "changes ... that will benefit not just Britain, but the rest of Europe, too."

Cameron visited Paris to renegotiate terms of Britain's membership in the European bloc, suggesting mainly tougher rules to prevent migrants claiming benefits and exemption for Britain from the EU drive for closer union.

After Paris, Cameron will meet Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.