Bristol Hannover Council
Welcome first state visit in 27 years
—-We welcome the state visit this week of the President of the Federal Republic, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife Elke Budenbender.
This is the first state visit of the German head of state to Britain since 1998. It follows the state visit of King Charles to Germany in 2023, when he famously addressed the Bundestag in German, and the visit earlier this year of the new German chancellor Friedrich Merz when a new bi-lateral agreement of cooperation was signed at Kensington Palace.
In October this year in Bristol we celebrated 35 years of German reunification and were able to look back over the achievements of the past in rebuilding democracy in Germany.
As we face new challenges to democracy in Europe it is important that Britain and Germany build on long-standing relationships and forges even closer ties. —- IAN TURNER, Chair
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