German Chancellor Frédéric MerzAsia’s first visit to Asia raised IndiaHopes for a long-awaited trade deal with the European Union as Berlin pushes for deeper engagement with South Asia amid heightened global tensions.
Merz began his two-day visit to India on Monday by paying tribute to India’s founding father Mahatma Gandhi at his ashram, or meditation place, in Ahmedabad, before joining his counterpart. Narendra Modi at a traditional kite festival, where the two flew kites together from an open-top vehicle.
Following the leaders’ meeting, the two sides announced a series of agreements and joint declarations aimed at boosting bilateral trade, which reached $51 billion last year, and strengthening defense cooperation. Merz also pledged to help accelerate the conclusion of a free trade agreement between India and the EU.
Visa-free transit was also announced for Indian passport holders and a new framework for recruiting Indian healthcare workers to India. Germanya key demand from India.
Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri told reporters on Monday that the German leader “noted the changing world order, the instability that (the) world order is facing and why, in this context, it is increasingly important for India and Germany to take their relations to a new level and do much more.”
Merz also placed particular emphasis on Germany’s “very strong support for the early conclusion of the India-EU meeting”, Misri said.
About The Author
