State Visit to Germany

In addition to formal programme in Berlin, the visit includes meetings with President Horst Köhler, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the Bundesrat, Mr Harald Ringstorff.

Trade and economic development comprise important topics during the visit, with special focus on tourism, energy, climate and polar issues. The King and Queen will meet representatives of Norwegian and German trade and industry, and Queen Sonja will give her presentation “Impressions of Norway” during a reception in Berlin.

On the third day, Their Majesties will visit Düsseldorf and Essen, where the President of Nordhrein-Westfalen, Mr Jürgen Rüttgers, will be their host. Seminars on energy, climate and polar research will be held in Düsseldorf, and His Majesty King Harald will open a new gas power plant in Knapsack Hürth. Her Majesty Queen Sonja will visit a Norwegian exhibition and a Norwegian – German youth forum in Zeche Zollverein, Essen. The King and Queen will both be in attendance when this year’s Willy Brandt Award is presented to former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Thorvald Stoltenberg and former Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Egon Bahr.

The King and Queen are accompanied by four members of the Government and a large business delegation. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Ms Åslaug Haga, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Dag Terje Andersen and Minister of Education and Research, Mr Øystein Djupedal, are all taking part in this State Visit to Germany.