China News Agency, Washington, July 15 (Reporter Chen Mengtong) US President Biden met with visiting German Chancellor Merkel at the White House on the 15th.

After the meeting, the two parties announced that the United States and Germany will start new cooperation on climate change and energy transition, but their differences on key issues such as the "Beixi-2" project remain.

Data map: German Chancellor Merkel.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

　　This is the first meeting between Biden and European leaders in the White House during his tenure.

For Merkel, who will leave office in September, this visit is likely to be her last trip to the White House as German Chancellor.

　　Compared with Merkel's brief itinerary during her visit to the United States in April 2018, the United States showed different specifications in the reception arrangements this time.

In the morning, Merkel was first invited to have breakfast with her at the US Vice President Harris's residence, and then went to Johns Hopkins University to receive an honorary doctorate.

After meeting with Biden in the afternoon, the White House also arranged a dinner for him.

　　Although Biden and Merkel were both known as "old friends" at the press conference, they came to divergent positions when discussing key issues such as the "Beixi-2" natural gas pipeline project.

　　The "Beixi-2" natural gas pipeline project aims to lay a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea bottom, which can bypass Ukraine and transport Russian natural gas to Germany and other European countries.

The pipeline is about 1,200 kilometers long and is expected to be completed this summer.

The U.S. government designated "Beixi-2" as a geostrategic project of Russia and repeatedly asked Germany to give up.

Germany and Russia said the project is a commercial project.

　　"There will also be differences between good friends." Biden said when talking about this issue. When he took office, the "Beixi-2" project had been 90% completed, and "imposing sanctions does not seem to make any sense."

Biden said that the two sides will study practical measures that can be taken together to ensure European energy security and Ukraine's security.

Data map: US President Biden.

　　Merkel also bluntly stated that the two sides "have different views" on what the "Beixi-2" project needs to do.

But she reiterated that Ukraine is still a natural gas transit country, and "Beixi-2" is an additional project.

If Russia does not respect Ukraine's rights as a natural gas transit country, Germany will actively take action.

　　After the meeting, the two sides issued a "Germany Climate and Energy Partnership" statement, proposing that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in three areas: climate change, renewable energy technologies, and promotion of the energy transition of emerging economies.

The statement mentioned that the two sides will promote investment in Central and Eastern Europe, including support for Ukraine's energy transition, energy efficiency and energy security.

　　During the meeting, the two sides also discussed issues such as US-Europe relations, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and the provision of new crown vaccine assistance to underdeveloped countries.

　　Biden and Merkel also signed a "Washington Declaration" that day.

The document stated that the two sides will hold the "Forum on the Future of Virtue" to use professional knowledge and innovative strength to propose solutions for the future of the two countries.

At the same time, a US-German economic dialogue mechanism will be established to promote cooperation on key economic issues.

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