New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations this afternoon. The two leaders held a one-on-one discussion before the delegation-level talks.
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“The discussions covered key areas of bilateral cooperation, under the overall strategic partnership, as well as regional and global developments,” read a communique to the media released after the meet.
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The IGC plenary session will be followed by a high-level roundtable where PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz will hold interactions with top business leaders from both nations.
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Many ministers from both sides participated in the IGC meet. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were part of the Indian delegation.
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This was PM Modi’s first meeting with Mr Scholz after he assumed the office of the Chancellor in December 2021.
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PM Modi had landed in Germany early this morning on the first leg of his three-nation tour. “I am confident this visit will boost the friendship between India and Germany,” he tweeted in English and German soon after he reached.
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“It was early morning in Berlin yet several people from the Indian community came by. Was wonderful connecting with them. India is proud of the accomplishments of our diaspora,” read a second tweet from the Prime Minister.
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Shortly after, he was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour and received by Chancellor Scholz at the Federal Chancellery.
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Later this evening, he is likely to meet the Indian community. It will be followed by a private dinner hosted by Chancellor Scholz.
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The India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations is a mechanism that allows the two governments to coordinate on a wide spectrum of bilateral issues.
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The plenary session was to be focussed on three aspects: Firstly foreign affairs and security; secondly economic financial policy, scientific and social exchange and finally climate, environment, sustainable development and energy, the foreign secretary had said yesterday.