French President Emmanuel Macron said his state visit to Germany is taking place at a "decisive moment for Europe," with the continent confronting Russia's military aggression along with challenges with respect to climate change and artificial intelligence.
"We must essentially confront imperialist ambitions in Europe, a return to violence and lawlessness, and unprecedented challenges for our future," Macron said.
To address these issues, he said, a "Franco-German push" is needed.
At a press conference alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Macron described the relationship between Germany and France as a "lively, demanding, ambitious couple."
Commenting on the fact that he is the first French president to pay a state visit to Germany in 24 years, Macron said: "This is undoubtedly too long, but it is an unprecedented opportunity at such a serious moment to demonstrate the strength of our friendship, to reaffirm our desire to nurture it, to cultivate it and to give it new goals, new perspectives, so to speak."