The US has said co-operation with Afghan President Hamid Karzai is on track.
Mr Karzai's spokesman Waheed Omer predicted 'frank' exchanges during his four-day trip to Washington.
After chiding Mr Karzai for months over alleged corruption and vote-rigging, US officials hope the visit with leaders including President Barack Obama will help forge personal bonds and a better working relationship.
The US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, who authored a scathing leaked memo that questioned Mr Karzai's reliability as a partner, flew with the Afghan leader yesterday and said interests were 'never better aligned.'
Through 'the talks over the next several days, I think we’re going to emerge with even better alignment,' Mr Eikenberry said.
'Afghanistan is a close friend and ally and of course I highly respect President Karzai in that capacity,' he said.
Richard Holbrooke, the envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan who has had particularly tense ties with Mr Karzai, personally greeted the Afghan leader as he landed.
While their leaders meet, senior US and Afghan officials are also due to hold separate talks on co-operating over a range of issues including agriculture and training of the Afghan army and police.
Mr Karzai is also expected to press for greater assurances to avoid civilian casualties and support for plans to integrate Taliban guerrillas.
The visit comes as the US military gears up for a crucial new stage of Mr Obama's strategy to surge 30,000 extra troops into Afghanistan, in a bid to defeat the Taliban and allow US forces to start coming home next year.
