Angela Merkel said that India has proved to be a reliable partner and both countries have been able to deepen cooperation
India and Germany "are made for each other," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday. The two countries signed 12 MoUs, which also included a commitment to spend 1 billion euros (about Rs 7,120 crore) in the areas of development cooperation for 2017.
Merkel said that India has proved to be a reliable partner and both countries have been able to deepen cooperation. The MoUs/agreements are related to the fields of cyber policy, development initiatives, sustainable urban development, continued development of cluster managers, skill development, digitalisation, railway security and vocational training.
Earlier, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome with military honours at the Chancellery, the office of the German Chancellor, where he was greeted by Merkel and senior German officials. The two leaders then headed for the fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) Plenary session, the focal point of Modi's two-day visit to Germany.
The Prime Minister is on a six-day-long four-nation tour that will also take him to Spain, Russia and France. During his talks with Merkel, Modi was assisted by Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Energy Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar.
Without naming China and South China Sea, the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting underlined the importance of freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and other maritime rights and obligations in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other principles of international law.
Recently Germany was represented by its economy and energy minister at the One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR) summit in Beijing, which was boycotted by India. India's Ambassador to Germany Mukta Dutta Tomar said the issue featured during the talks, when the Chancellor explained German participation. "India reiterated its stand against the initiative," she said.
Germany is the largest trade partner for India in the European Union (EU) and one of the leading sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. There are more than 1,600 German companies and 600 German joint ventures in India.
Highlighting that this is Modi's second bilateral visit to Germany since 2015, Tomar said that the ease of doing business in India and the fast-track mechanism set up in 2015 to assist German businesses work in India received appreciation from the German side. "In fact, there has been foreign direct investment of $2 billion (from Germany) in the past two years. The figures speak for themselves," she said.
"The consequences of Brexit (the UK's exit from the European Union) and how it would affect India and Germany were covered by the two leaders," Tomar said, adding that the prime minister reiterated the utmost value that India attaches to the EU's cohesiveness, which is a major factor of stability in global politics. Peace in Afghanistan and the importance of the "Afghan-led and owned reconciliation and development process" was touched upon, with the Prime Minister expressing appreciation over the German presence in Afghanistan and calling for a consolidation of efforts in the country, Tomar said.
Both countries also vowed to take strong measures against those who encourage, support and finance terrorism. The two leaders underlined their common concern about the threat and global reach of terrorism and extremism while condemning terrorist violence in all its forms and manifestations, the joint statement said. They also called for finalisation and adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, the joint statement said.
Modi also called for European Union (EU) unity and said India would play a positive role in enhancing that through Germany."EU unity, proactiveness and strong relations with other countries is extremely important for global development. We want the EU to become stronger and India will play a positive role towards that through the medium of Germany," Modi said. Germany also backed India's bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The two sides also vowed to strengthen the bilateral cyber relationship as laid out in the Joint Declaration of Intent on German-Indian Cooperation on Cyber Policy.
Pacts inked, PM pushes for green cause
- MOUs/agreements are related to cyber policy, development initiatives, sustainable urban development, and vocational training among others.
- It would be an "immoral and criminal act" to spoil the environment for future generations, PM Modi said and underlined the need to protect nature.
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