President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Germany today for the first state visit in French head of state for 24 years - a three-day trip that aims to highlight the strong ties between the traditional leading powers of the European Union, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The visit was originally due to take place in July last year, but was postponed at the last minute due to the unrest in France following the killing of a 17-year-old by police.
Although Macron has visited Germany frequently as Paris and Berlin try to coordinate their positions on EU and foreign policy, this is the first state visit with full pomp since Jacques Chirac came in 2000. Macron and his wife Brigitte was received by the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The visit comes as Germany marks the 75th anniversary of its constitution after World War II.
Steinmeier organizes a state banquet for Macron at his "Bellevue" in Berlin this evening, before the two presidents leave on Monday for the eastern city of Dresden, where Macron will deliver a speech, and on Tuesday for Münster in western Germany. The state visit will be followed later on Tuesday by a meeting between Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and ministers from both countries outside Berlin.