"We can say German-Chinese relations are completely back to normal", commented Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, summing up his impressions of his three-day trip to China. The last day of his trip, one of stark contrasts, took him to Sichuan to see at first hand the situation in the area hit by the recent earthquake and the help being provided by German relief workers.
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Germany pledges Euro 420 million in aid for Afghanistan
At Paris, representatives of more than 80 nations discussed the future international assistance for Afghanistan. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised that Germany will continue its massive financial and political sustain for the country.
US President Bush in Germany
George W. Bush was on a visit in Germany on 10/11 June. Read more about the US President's visit on the Homepage of the Federal German Government During his last visit in Washington, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had called for a re-aligning of transatlantic relations. Read more about this trip
Germany supports Kazakhstan as OSCE Chair in 2010
Kazahkstan will be the first CIS country to assume the OSCE Chair in 2010. That is a demanding task and Germany is keen to see this young country tackle it with professional expertise. The Federal Foreign Office is therefore helping to train Kazakh diplomats for the challenges that lie ahead.
Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner see a chance for intra-Lebanese reconciliation following the election of the new President. The Foreign Ministers discussed a number of current foreign policy issues during the recent session of the Franco-German Council of Ministers, just three weeks before France assumes the rotating EU Council Presidency.
Read more: Close coordination in the run-up to the French EU Presidency
The foundation "Mi Sangre" set up by the Colombian singer Juanes helps mine victims. Today Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented Juanes with a cheque for 200,000 euro, with which the Federal Foreign Office is supporting the foundation's work.
Read more: Aid for mine victims in Colombia
The participants in the 7th Summit of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), held in the Latvian capital Riga, have agreed on closer cooperation. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that education, science and environmental issues would be the priorities for the Council's work in the next few years.
Read more: Baltic Sea states step up cooperation
On Tuesday (3 June) Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the Center for German and European Studies at the University of Haifa in Israel. In his speech on the occasion of the formal opening the Foreign Minister promoted an even closer mutual integration between Israeli and German society.
Read more: Strengthening the confluence of cultures
