German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India on Saturday for his first visit since assuming office last year. It is also the first visit by a German Chancellor on its own since the biennial inter-governmental consultation (IGC) mechanism was formed in 2011.
Scholz is on a two-day visit to India, on his first day of the visit he made statements on the India-European Union free trade agreement, the Ukraine situation, and expanding bilateral cooperation in trade and the green transition.
Here’s a rundown of events that followed since the German Chancellor arrived:
Scholz Commenced His Visit With A Ceremonial Welcome At Rashtrapati Bhavan:
Scholz was greeted with a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan shortly after landing in New Delhi on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Ukraine situation was discussed by German Finance Minister Christian Lindner during discussions at the G20 finance ministers meeting in Bengaluru.
PM Modi And German Chancellor Scholz Held Extensive Talks On Bilateral Ties:
PM Modi and German Chancellor Scholz had extensive talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in clean energy, trade, and new technologies. The discussions took occurred just hours after Scholz arrived in Delhi.
Scholz stated that India has made tremendous progress and that this is “very good” for bilateral relations. “Much has happened in India, which is good for our countries’ relations. The world is suffering because of the consequences of Russia’s aggression. Ensuring food and energy supplies right now, “Olaf Scholz urged, ANI reported.
Both Leaders Met With Top Executives Of Indian And German Industries:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also met with top executives from Indian and German industries to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation.
Mutual cooperation is centered on digital transformation, financial technology, information technology, and telecommunications.
Chancellor @OlafScholz and I met top CEOs to discuss ways to strengthen economic relations between our nations. Sectors like digital transformation, FinTech, IT and Telecom featured prominently in the meeting. pic.twitter.com/0tACfOrlsI
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2023
‘It’s An Important Topic’: Olaf Scholz On EU-India Free Trade Agreement:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were determined to conclude a free trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU), news agency Reuters reported.
“It’s an important topic and I’ll get personally involved,” Scholz said after meeting with Modi in New Delhi.
Last year, the EU and India restarted talks to reach a free trade deal, with the aim of completing talks by the end of 2023.
Scholz Visited Indian President Droupadi Murmu At Rashtrapati Bhavan:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz then paid a visit to India’s President Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“Welcoming Chancellor Scholz on his first visit to India as German Chancellor, the President said that India and Germany have a long-standing relationship, which is underpinned by our common values and shared goals. Our bilateral relationship encompasses a wide range of areas, reflecting the mutual trust that has been nurtured over decades,” stated the Rashtrapati Bhavan in a statement.
PM Modi Gifted Meghalaya, Nagaland’s Culture And Craftsmanship To Scholz:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented icons of Meghalaya and Nagaland’s culture and craftsmanship to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Meghalaya stoles were among the gifts that appeared exquisite and attractive. They have a long history and a regal pedigree dating back centuries. The northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya is noted for its indigenous tribes, each having its own culture and heritage. Meghalaya stole weaving is an ancient tradition passed down through generations.
The Naga shawl was another gift, and one of its most notable elements is the employment of geometric and symbolic motifs. The designs are influenced by the tribe’s mythology, legends, and beliefs, with distinct meanings and significance assigned to each design, according to a report by ANI.
PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz met on the margins of the G20 summit in the Indonesian resort city of Bali on November 16, last year.
The two leaders first met on May 2, 2018, during PM Modi’s visit to Berlin for the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
That was followed by Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany on June 26 and 27 to attend the G7 grouping’s annual summit.
In recent years, India-Germany relations have strengthened in a variety of crucial areas.
Chancellor Scholz will arrive in Bangalore on Sunday morning and will leave the southern city at about 5:30 pm.
(With Inputs From Agencies)