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Angela Merkel with Joe Biden in the White House
Photo: Doug Mills / POOL / EPA
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) was received in the White House in Washington.
As can be seen on television pictures, she was greeted by the US chief of protocol, Asel Roberts, at the US seat of government early on Thursday afternoon (local time) and then met US President Joe Biden.
A press conference was scheduled for later.
Biden announced that he and the Chancellor had a lot to talk about.
He praised Merkel's commitment to the "lasting friendship" between Germany and the United States.
She always worked to ensure that this continued.
"I value this friendship very much," said Merkel.
The relationship grew significantly tense under Biden's predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump.
A memorable encounter between Merkel and Trump in a tense atmosphere in Washington in March 2017 was remembered when the US President refused to shake hands after a brief one-on-one conversation in front of photographers.
The video images of the embarrassing moment spread quickly in online networks.
At the talks on Thursday, however, controversial topics are also on the agenda, such as the dispute over the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline and how to deal with China.
Merkel is the first European head of government to be received in the White House by the head of state, who has been in office since January.
Honorary doctorate for Merkel
She had arrived in Washington on Wednesday evening for what was probably her last visit to the United States as Chancellor.
On Thursday morning she received an honorary doctorate from the renowned Johns Hopkins University.
In the evening, Biden will also give an official dinner for Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer together with First Lady Jill.
mjm / AFP