France's Macron to make state visit to Germany in July
French President Emmanuel Macron will make his first state visit to Germany in July, the two countries said on Monday, amid
persistent tensions on issues ranging from energy policy to China.
Macron will visit Germany from July 2 to 4 at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier "to honour the close friendship of the two countries in the 60th year of the Elysee Treaty" on bilateral relations.
It will be the first state visit by a French president in 23 years, Steinmeier's office said.
Macron will visit "several regions of Germany" in order to "underline the unique ties between our states, our citizens and particularly German and French youth".
"This special event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the decades-old friendship of the two countries," Berlin said, "as well as the close personal ties" between Steinmeier and Macron.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Paris this week to prepare the visit, meeting her French counterpart on Tuesday and joining a cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, Macron's office said.
Macron will travel to Potsdam outside Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 6 to prepare for a series of forthcoming events including the conference for a new global financial pact and an European Union summit in late June and a NATO summit in July.
The French presidency also announced a meeting of the two governments in the autumn to foster "ever closer cooperation between the two countries".
The stepped-up diplomacy comes amid friction on a range of issues key to both governments.
Germany's phase-out of nuclear power as France steps up the construction of reactors has proved contentious in recent months, as has a reform of the EU's stability and growth pact and major defence acquisition programmes.
Meanwhile Macron sparked controversy last month after a visit to China by saying that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing, or get caught up in any escalation over Taiwan.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius criticised Macron's remarks as "unfortunate", adding: "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States."
Beijing announced early on Monday that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang would visit Germany, France and Norway this week, as China pushes to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.
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Macron will visit Germany from July 2 to 4 at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier "to honour the close friendship of the two countries in the 60th year of the Elysee Treaty" on bilateral relations.
It will be the first state visit by a French president in 23 years, Steinmeier's office said.
Macron will visit "several regions of Germany" in order to "underline the unique ties between our states, our citizens and particularly German and French youth".
"This special event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the decades-old friendship of the two countries," Berlin said, "as well as the close personal ties" between Steinmeier and Macron.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Paris this week to prepare the visit, meeting her French counterpart on Tuesday and joining a cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, Macron's office said.
Macron will travel to Potsdam outside Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 6 to prepare for a series of forthcoming events including the conference for a new global financial pact and an European Union summit in late June and a NATO summit in July.
The French presidency also announced a meeting of the two governments in the autumn to foster "ever closer cooperation between the two countries".
The stepped-up diplomacy comes amid friction on a range of issues key to both governments.
Germany's phase-out of nuclear power as France steps up the construction of reactors has proved contentious in recent months, as has a reform of the EU's stability and growth pact and major defence acquisition programmes.
Meanwhile Macron sparked controversy last month after a visit to China by saying that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing, or get caught up in any escalation over Taiwan.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius criticised Macron's remarks as "unfortunate", adding: "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States."
Beijing announced early on Monday that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang would visit Germany, France and Norway this week, as China pushes to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.
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