WASHINGTON, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will visit the United States and hold talks with US President George W. Bush at the White House on June 27, White House deputy spokesman Trent Duffy said in a statement on Friday.

    "Germany is a strong ally and partner of the United States working with us to advance freedom and reform, promote prosperity and development, and counter terrorism and proliferation around the world," Duffy said.

    "Germany has played a leading role in the international effort to assist the Afghan people with security, developing the police, and reconstructing their nation. Building on their February 2005 meeting in Mainz, Germany, the two leaders intend to continue their discussion about how the United States and Europe can work together on a broad agenda of global issues," he added.

    Schroeder has been a strong opponent of the US-led war on Iraq, but bilateral relations have markedly improved since then. Enditem