Rhodri Morgan welcomes Tony Blair to the talks

Prime Minister Mr Blair arrived slightly late for the talks at the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans, four miles from Cardiff, after being held up because of traffic congestion caused by security checks.

During the British-Irish Council meeting, Mr Blair and Mr Ahern will discuss reaction to the Northern Ireland Assembly results.

Wales' First Minister Rhodri Morgan hosted the summit, which is also expected to be attended by senior members of other UK administrations, including Scotland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Mr Blair is due to start Labour's "big conversation" programme, which will seek the views of party members and voters at large on policies ahead of the next general election.

A unique and valuable forum for collaboration First Minister Rhodri Morgan on the British-Irish Council

Mr Blair arrived in south Wales on Thursday evening, after receiving the all-clear following a health check for stomach pains he felt on Wednesday.

This will be the fifth meeting of the British-Irish Council, which was set up as part of Northern Ireland's Good Friday agreement.

It is also Cardiff's first meeting of national leaders of this kind since hosting the European Summit five years ago.

It is intended to promote co-operation between the constituent parts of the UK and Ireland.

As well as discussing the Irish election, the future of indigenous and lesser-used languages, like Welsh, is also on the agenda.

Mr Blair and Mr Ahern meet regularly to discuss the peace process

Mr Morgan described the council as "a unique and valuable forum for collaboration between its members".

He said Wales would share its expertise on promoting minority languages, but also hoped to learn from other areas.

"We all recognise the importance of these issues - not only for sustaining culture, language, and diversity, but also as a means of promoting social inclusion, providing better quality public services and boosting the tourist industry, amongst other things.

"We will also be considering measures to develop the British-Irish Council further, enhancing its status as a thriving inter-governmental forum.

"That is something on which I am sure we can all readily agree."

Mr Blair's visit also includes a speech to Labour's national policy forum in Newport.