Foreign Affairs

The visit Thursday and Friday will cover the Middle East conflict, Iran's nuclear program, peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and the Balkans, energy security and relations with Central Asia, Steinmeier's spokesman Martin Jäger said.

Talks will also focus on preparations for Germany holding the rotating presidencies of both the European Union and the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations next year, said Jäger.

G8 issues to be discussed with Rice include energy security, climate change, Germany's planned Central Asian initiative and moves to boost ties with non-EU countries on the 25-nation bloc's borders.

Coordination, cooperation

Germany hosts the 2007 summit of G8 leaders at the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm in June.

"Early coordination and close cooperation with the United States are key aspects to managing the very difficult foreign policy agenda ahead of us," Jäger told a regular government news conference.

Berlin will take the reins of both the European Union and Group of Eight most industrialized nations in January.

Quartet for Peace relaunch?

Jäger said Steinmeier would seek US support for German plans to relaunch the so-called Quartet for Middle East Peace, which involves the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations, in the first half of 2007.

He also plans to sound out US officials on their reaction to a bipartisan panel's proposals on how to resolve the crisis in Iraq, which was presented to US President George W. Bush on Wednesday.

Beyond the talks with Rice, Steinmeier will meet senators Chuck Hagel, Joseph Lieberman and Carl Levin.