Seoul: German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed Thursday to work with US President Barack Obama on Afghanistan and the world economy, despite her earlier criticism of Washington's economic policy.
Merkel said she would use a meeting with Obama before a G20 summit was to begin in Seoul "to send a signal, really good signal," for global growth.
"Only together will we be able to tackle the crucial problems of the world today, problems and issues such as Afghanistan, the upcoming Nato summit meeting and also obviously issues of the G20," she said, hours before the summit was to get under way.
Obama said he and Merkel have much to discuss on issues such as Afghanistan.
"On economic issues as G20 members, but also as two of the world's largest economies, making sure that we continue with a balanced and sustainable growth that all of us seek," he added.
Obama said he was confident "that we are going to be able to put the world on a path that ensures strong growth and opportunity for both parties".
Hours earlier the German leader attacked "political" limits on national trade surpluses, hitting back at US proposals to tackle world economic imbalances.
"To set political limits on trade surpluses and deficits is neither economically justified nor politically appropriate," she said in a speech to a G20 business summit.
The United States had earlier proposed limiting current account surpluses or shortfalls to four percent of a nation's output.
It shelved the idea of numerical targets following fierce opposition from surplus countries such as China, Germany and Japan.
The summit of leaders of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies was to be dominated by disputes over foreign exchange rates and trade imbalances.
Merkel also called for leaders to take a strong stance against trade protectionism.
