Obama to host German Chancellor in June

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US President Barack Obama would host German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a state visit and dinner on June 7, the White House said.

"This will be the first such visit by a German Chancellor or President since President Richard von Weizsäcker was hosted at the White House in 1992, two years after German reunification," it said in a statement.

This would be Obama Administration's fourth state dinner – the first one being that of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in November 2009.

In February 2011, Obama had hosted the Chinese President on a State visit.

"The Chancellor's visit underscores the fundamental importance of the US-German alliance, the depth of the friendship between our people, and our commitment to move forward together on behalf of our shared interests and values," the statement said.

Obama and Merkel will discuss the broad array of issues on which the US and Germany cooperate closely, including in Afghanistan, the West Asia, Iran, and on promoting human rights and global economic stability and growth, it said.

Chancellor Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany and became Germany's first woman Chancellor in 2005, received the 2010 Medal of Freedom, which Obama will present to her during the visit.