Gauck noted that this was Grabar-Kitarovic's second visit abroad after Bosnia and Herzegovina since she was inaugurated last month. She said that by coming to Berlin shortly after the presidential election, she was making a statement about the level of friendship and understanding between the Croatian and German peoples.
Grabar-Kitarovic was welcomed with state honours at Bellevue Castle, the residence of the German president.
Judging by the two presidents' statements, Grabar-Kitarovic's visit was firstly a sign of good relations between the two states and secondly an opportunity to exchange views on current topics, including bilateral relations, common European issues, and the stance on Southeast Europe.
Despite aligned views on Southeast Europe, notably assisting the countries in their Euro-Atlantic integration, it became evident that the two presidents had different views on Croatia's role in that context. While Gauck spoke of the Western Balkans, Grabar-Kitarovic spoke of Southeast Europe.
Croatia is an example for the other Western Balkan states, he said, mentioning Croatia as a link between that region and the rest of Europe.
I welcome your country's intention to deepen cooperation in the Western Balkans. Germany wants a confident, reform-minded and prosperous Croatia as a close partner in the European Union. But we also want a Croatia which is aware of its role in Southeast Europe, Gauck said.
Grabar-Kitarovic underscored Croatia's openness to cooperation with the neighbours in Southeast Europe and mentioned its willingness to participate in the Brdo-Brijuni and Berlin processes.
She pushed for strengthening cooperation in Central Europe, between the Adriatic and the Baltic Sea, not just in the context of energy, but also in a much broader political context. She also recalled that Croatia was an example to Southeast European countries.
There are war wounds that need closing, she said, recalling that Croatia was willing to share its EU accession experience with Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighbouring countries.
After meeting with Gauck, with whom she also talked at a working lunch, Grabar-Kitarovic met with Chancellor Merkel. In line with protocol, there were no statements to the press. Merkel's office said in a statement before the meeting that the talks would address bilateral political relations, EU-related topics, and developments in Southeast Europe.
In an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Monday, Grabar-Kitarovic said she wanted to regain Germany's trust in Croatia, which has been undermined by the Josip Perkovic case and Croatia's amendment of the European Arrest Warrant law on the eve of its EU accession.
Germany was one of the strongest critics of Croatia after it amended said law only two days before joining the EU on July 1, 2013 and prevented the extradition of former Yugoslav and Croatian secret service official Josip Perkovic to Germany to stand trial for the murder of Croatian dissident Stjepan Djurekovic outside Munich in 1983.
"I would like to restore our mutual trust and Croatia's credibility," said the newly-elected Croatian president. During her campaign, she frequently spoke of the importance of relations with Germany, Europe's strongest economy.
"As a person who had worked on pre-accession negotiations and assured the EU that Croatia would be a constructive partner, I was disappointed that after it entered the Union there was a parting of ways over the European Arrest Warrant and the Perkovic case," she said. "That was unnecessary. Croatia has to prove its credibility by honouring what it has signed."
During today's meeting with Gauck, Grabar-Kitarovic said she was certain that this was the first of many meetings and the beginning of a new partnership. She said she was aware of Germany's leading role in Western integration and that the talks also addressed the economy, science, culture, and tourism.
Germany has always been there for Croatia, believing in our abilities, she said.
According to Gauck, the intense relations between the two countries are enriched by the 230,000 Croats living in Germany and the many German tourists who vacation in Croatia. He noted, however, that the reform process in Croatia was not over and that Croatia faced big economic challenges as well as the need to deal with the past.
This evening, Grabar-Kitarovic will give a talk on Croatia and the EU at the European Academy Berlin.
Gauck visited Croatia in December 2012.