WASHINGTON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Dispersing clouds of disagreement over global issues, the United States and Germany have been trying to reforge their strategic alliance in dealing with challenges facing them.

    Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to the United States has been claimed a success as U.S. President Barack Obama high-profiled "the bonds of friendship and trust" between the two countries as "unbreakable."

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    AGREEMENT ON GLOBAL ISSUES

    "No single nation can meet the challenges of our time alone... The United States and Germany -- one of our closest allies and an indispensable partner -- will continue to play a leadership role across the range of challenges," Obama told a joint press conference after his meeting with Merkel in the White House.

    The global financial crisis, the nuclear deadlock with Pyongyang and Tehran, security in Afghanistan and Iraq, climate change and clean energy, on which the United States and Germany have accumulated a few disagreements, were all discussed candidly in the meeting, the first formal one between the two leaders.

    On the financial crisis, both Obama and Merkel agreed on the need to strengthen financial regulation, avoid protectionism and embrace concerted collective action that creates sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

    "We now have to emerge obviously from the crisis and recovery of our economies is a great precondition for further progress," said Merkel.

    On climate change and clear energy, the two environmentalists claimed that talks with emerging economies on their possible contribution are vital for bringing "a good, a sustainable result" at the Copenhagen climate change conference.

    On proliferation issues, they agreed to encourage Russia and China to play a more positive role. "We've done that over the years in the format of the United Nations with a number of resolutions, and that needs to be continued," said Merkel.

    TOUGH TONE ON IRAN

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel following their Oval Office meeting in Washington June 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    As to the situation in Iran, President Obama said the United States and Germany have shared "one voice" in condemning the Iranian government's crackdown on its people.

    "The chancellor and I discussed the tragic situation in Iran. Today we speak with one voice," said Obama, adding that they shared the belief that "what's happened in Iran is unacceptable when it comes to violence against its own citizens."

    "The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. Despite the government's efforts to keep the world from bearing witness to that violence, we see it and we condemn it," said the president.

    "There is no doubt that any direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran is going to be affected by the events of the last several weeks," Obama said. It is the first time for the president to question in public the so-called "engagement" policy toward Tehran.

    Obama and his administration have been seeking "direct diplomacy" to persuade the Iranian government to abandon its disputed nuclear program and its alleged support for international terrorism.

    Echoing Obama's tough words on Iran, Merkel claimed that the Iranian people need to be given the right to peaceful demonstrations, to have votes counted and the election results substantiated.

    MILD WORDS TO RUSSIA

German Chancellor Angela Merkel answers questions during a joint news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House following their Oval Office meeting in Washington June 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Both leaders voiced willingness to seek a substantive relationship with the Kremlin, whose ties with the United States have been strained by the planned U.S. missile plans in Eastern Europe and U.S.-backed enlargement of NATO.

    Looking for Russia's cooperation on dealing with the financial crisis, proliferation, climate change, terrorism and other challenges, the Obama administration has vowed to "press the reset button" with Moscow through more bilateral strategic cooperation and conversation.

    "Chancellor Merkel and I reaffirmed our commitment to a more substantive relationship with Russia, working with the Russian government on issues where we agree and honestly confronting those areas where we disagree," said Obama.

    "In Moscow, we will continue to explore ways in which the United States and Russia can advance our common interests, including our joint commitment to reducing our nuclear arsenals and strengthening the global nonproliferation regime," said the president, who is scheduled to visit Moscow in July.

    During his visit to Russia, Obama is expected to discuss with President Dmitry Medvedev on a new pact to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty which will expire this December. Senior government officials and disarmament experts from the two countries have been busy drafting the new pact.

    Echoing Obama's remarks, Merkel said a partnership with Russia "is very important" for Germany and the European Union (EU), adding that Germany and the EU expect "a very good relationship" between Washington and Moscow.

    UNCOORDINATED PROBLEMS

    Although the two leaders spoke out their viewpoints in "one voice" on some global issues and called the U.S.-German alliance "unbreakable," they still failed to solve existing differences on the issues of Guantanamo's closure and operations in Afghanistan.

    The Merkel-led government has shunned Washington's call on taking Guantanamo prison's detainees for its national security concern and on sending more troops to the war in Afghanistan, which has been opposed by most Germans.

    "I think that Chancellor Merkel, she has an obligation, obviously, to make sure that Germany's national security interests come first in these considerations. We understand that and we expect that we will continue to have constructive negotiations on some of these issues," said Obama.

    The unsolved issues are expected to top the agenda, at least, of the upcoming Obama-Merkel meetings during the Group of Eight summit next month in Italy and the G20 summit this September in the United States, and even of more meetings in the future.

    Nevertheless, Germany is still a strong and reliable supporter to the U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan, providing some 3,500 military personnel to the NATO ISAF mission which made Germany the third-largest troop contributor after the United States and Britain.

    Germany stands at the center of European affairs and is a key partner in the U.S. relations with Europeans in NATO and the European Union. And as two of the world's leading trading nations, the United States and Germany share a common, deep-seated commitment to an open and expanding world economy.