New Delhi: Ahead of his visit to Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a departure statement, saying that he “intends to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with European partners”.
“My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity,” the PM said.
Talking about his engagement in Germany, the Prime Minister said that he looks forward to exchanging views with Chancellor Scholz on strategic, regional and global developments that concern both countries.
“My visit to Berlin will be an opportunity to hold detailed bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz, whom I met at G20 last year in his previous capacity as Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister,” the PM said.
The PM said that both leaders will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations, a unique biennial format, which India conducts only with Germany. Several Indian Ministers will also travel to Germany and hold consultations with their German counterparts, he added.
“I see this IGC as an early engagement with the new government in Germany, within six months of its formation, which will be helpful to identify our priorities for the medium and long term,” he said. India and Germany commemorated 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2021 and have been strategic partners since 2000.
“I look forward to exchanging views with Chancellor Scholz on strategic, regional and global developments that concern us both.
“The long standing commercial ties between India and Germany form one of the pillars of our Strategic Partnership, and Chancellor Scholz and I will also jointly address a Business Roundtable with the goal of energising our industry to industry cooperation, which will help strengthen the post Covid economic recovery in both countries,” the PM said.
Modi said that continental Europe is home to over one million persons of Indian origin, and Germany has a significant proportion of this Diaspora. “The Indian Diaspora is an important anchor in our relations with Europe and therefore I will take the opportunity of my visit to the continent to meet our brothers and sisters there,” the PM said.
The PM said that after Berlin’s visit he will travel to Copenhagen to have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Frederiksen which will provide an opportunity to review the progress in unique ‘Green Strategic Partnership’ with Denmark, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relations.
“I will also participate in the India-Denmark Business Roundtable as well as interact with the Indian community in Denmark. Apart from the bilateral engagements with Denmark, I will also take part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway where we will take stock of our cooperation since the First India-Nordic Summit in 2018,” the PM said.
The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region, he added.
The PM said that he will also meet the leaders of the other four Nordic countries and review the progress in India’s bilateral relations with them on the side lines of the Summit. Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation, he added. The PM said that his visit to France will reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries.
“During my return journey, I will stopover in Paris to meet my friend, President Macron,” the PM said. “
This will also give us the opportunity to set the tone of the next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership,” he added. The Prime Minister said that his visit to France just 10 days after President Macron’s re-election will allow him to convey personal congratulations in-person to Macron. This will also reaffirm the close friendship between the two countries, the PM added.
“President Macron and I will share assessments on various regional and global issues and will take stock of ongoing bilateral cooperation. It is my firm belief that two countries that share such similar vision and values for the global order, must work in close cooperation with each other,” the PM said in his Departure Statement.
In a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the principal purpose of PM’s visit was for “India to continue to strengthen its multi-faceted relationship with the three countries.”Â
