Northern Secretary Peter Hain has said that there was "an umbilical cord" linking the British and Irish governments and that there would be no "side deals" between the British government and Sinn Féin in the peace process.
Speaking to journalists at a joint press conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern at Iveagh House in Dublin, Mr Hain said he was also hopeful of progress in Northern Ireland over the coming months.
The two men met for the first time last night for a working dinner.
"I think one of the main points we will be getting across is that we have to continue the excellent relationship that both governments have, the partnership between both governments has been the cornerstone of the workings of the Good Friday agreement," Mr Ahern said before the dinner.
Mr Hain also stressed the relationship between both governments. "An umbilical cord links the Irish and British governments in this process," he said.
Both had "this ambition to end the conflict and create a permanent political solution through getting the institutions up and running and a stability and a prosperity, which I think we can do and we will work together and spare no efforts in order to achieve that".
He said he was "confident progress can be made over the coming months.
"I hope that it can be over weeks but let's not put timetables on it." Mr Hain indicated that he agreed with previous comments by Mr Ahern that there could be no side deals between the British government and Sinn Féin if the DUP refused to sign up to a future agreement.
"You can't solve this problem by side deals, you have to work together, all the partners involved," he said.
He said a series of meetings between the British government, the Irish Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland would continue. These included separate meetings between British prime minister Tony Blair and the DUP and Sinn Féin in Downing Street later today.
Speaking in Derry earlier yesterday, Mr Hain said he believed the North had "a positive and bright future". He also said today's meeting between Mr Blair and the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Féin in Downing Street were an important step in breaking the political impasse.
"That's what the talks in Downing Street will be about, to see how serious both parties are in taking this whole process forward. I think they are serious, but we will find out in more detail about what steps are now to follow.
"I am hopeful because I think the only future for Northern Ireland is in the DUP, as the winner of the election, and Sinn Féin, as also in a way a winner, with the other parties, in making sure that we can really cement in this positive future for Northern Ireland and I am hopeful from my discussions with all of the party leaders over the past week, that there is now a desire to use the next year or so, and particularly the next few weeks and months, to really jump start this process again because that's what's needed," he said.
Mr Hain said he believed the British government and Sinn Féin were in agreement that criminality and paramilitary activities had to end.