France has pledged to unite with Australia in a "relationship of confidence" as the two nations move to cement the $50 billion submarine deal.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was in Melbourne on Friday for talks with Australia's Julie Bishop, where the two signed a wide-ranging agreement, including a promise to finalise "the exchange and protection of classified information".

Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Australia's Julie Bishop in Melbourne on Friday. Credit:JOHANNES SIMON

France was acutely embarrassed last year by the leak of thousands of pages of sensitive submarine documents by the same French shipbuilder selected to Australia's next fleet, which also led to calls for an inquiry in Australia.

Although the leak related to Scorpene-class submarines bound for India - and not the Baracuda-class that will be designed for the 12 Australian subs - France has moved to reassure Australia about the security of its submarine plans.