French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday it is "obvious and indispensable" to have exchanges with US President Donald Trump as the two leaders were set to meet to try to push past major differences and find common ground on security, defense and other issues.

Mr Macron spoke at a news conference following a meeting in Paris with German Chancellor Angela Merkel who, like Mr Macron, was deeply disappointed in Mr Trump's recent decision to withdraw the US from a global agreement to combat climate change.

Mrs Merkel said differences with the US are "regrettable" but that communication continues.

Mr Trump arrived in the French capital on Thursday after an overnight flight from Washington for a whirlwind, 36-hour visit to meet with Macron and tackle potential solutions to the crisis in Syria and discuss broader counterterrorism strategies.