German Chancellor Scholz meets PM Modi during 2-day India visit. Here's what on the agenda

Source : India Today

PM Modi and Olaf Scholz will hold talks with a focus on boosting the bilateral ties (Photo: MEA/Twitter)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in New Delhi for a two-day India visit with an aim to expand the overall bilateral ties and discuss the Ukraine conflict. The German leader was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Scholz for a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He met PM Modi and other ministers during the event.

"Chancellor Scholz’s visit is an opportunity to further deepen the multifaceted India-Germany strategic partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a tweet.

It is Scholz's first visit to India after he became the German chancellor in December 2021. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Indo-Pacific region are also expected to figure prominently in the deliberations, news agency PTI reported.

PM Modi and Olaf Scholz will hold talks with a focus on boosting bilateral ties in the areas of trade and investment, new technologies, clean energy and defence. People familiar with the broad agenda of the Modi-Scholz talks told PTI the consequences of the Ukraine conflict are expected to be discussed by the two leaders.

PM Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held delegation-level talks in Delhi.

"We already have good relations between Germany and India and I hope that we will strengthen this relationship. I hope we will discuss intensely all the topics relevant to the development of our countries and also peace in the world, " Scholz was quoted by ANI as saying.

'GERMANY BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER IN EUROPE'

Addressing the joint press meet at Hyderabad House in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said, "India and Germany's relationship is based on the deep understanding between the two countries. We have a history of trade exchange. Germany is our biggest trading partner in Europe."

"Apart from being our largest trading partner in Europe, Germany is also an important source of investment in India. The strong ties between India and Germany are based on shared democratic values of each other's interests," he added.

"Focus of the talks will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation, building on the green and sustainable development partnership and economic partnership, and forging closer ties in defence," the MEA said in a statement.

This is the fourth time that the two leaders are meeting in the span of a year, underscoring the mutual commitment to growth of the Indo-German partnership.

"Leaders will review progress on key outcomes of the 6th IGC held in May 2022. They will discuss ways to strengthen defence & economic cooperation, enhance talent mobility and widen S&T collaboration," the ministry said.

The first meeting between the two leaders took place during Modi's visit to Berlin on May 2 last year for the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).

Scholz invited Modi for the G7 summit under the German presidency. The ties between India and Germany have been on an upswing in a range of key areas in the last few years.

Scholz will leave for Bengaluru on Sunday morning and is scheduled to depart from the southern city at around 5:30 pm.