New Delhi, 25 Feb. Trade between Germany and India, the fight against climate change and the Russian invasion of Ukraine focused this Saturday on the first day of an official visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Asian country.
“Cooperation between the two countries is of great importance, and there are many areas in which we can increase our cooperation, first of all in economic matters,” Scholz said at an event where he was accompanied by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chancellor noted that currently some 1,800 German companies are operating in India and have created tens of thousands of jobs.
“They are among the largest foreign investors in the country, and our intention is to strengthen and expand this cooperation,” Scholz said.
Among the topics discussed between the two leaders is collaboration in digital technologies, with Germany particularly interested in “attracting and recruiting talent” from India, in addition to the fight against climate change and the transition to renewable energy. .
Modi for his part pointed out that Germany, “apart from being our main trading partner with Europe, is also an important source of investment in India.”
“India and Germany are working together to collaborate on green and sustainable partnerships, climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, green hydrogen and biofuels,” the Indian Prime Minister said.
The two leaders also discussed a free trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU), the negotiations of which started in 2007 but were stalled in 2013. The treaty was revived in 2021, during a summit held in the Portuguese city of Porto.
“We want to deepen trade relations between the European Union and India, and that is why we have insisted on the need to quickly conclude the negotiations on a free trade and investment protection agreement,” Scholz said. , who will deal “personally” with this there will be no further delay.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also featured prominently in the bilateral talks, coinciding with the first anniversary of the start of hostilities and the ongoing meeting in the southern city of Bangalore of G20 finance chiefs.
Scholz said he hoped India would “do what is necessary” to move forward with a clear condemnation of the war, while Modi underscored India’s focus “on resolving this dispute through dialogue and diplomacy”. ECE
daa/amg
(Picture / Video)