After His Visit to Germany, PM Modi Off to Spain

PM Modi described his visit to Germany as a ‘new chapter’ in bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Photo: AP)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday paid a courtesy call to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his official residence here before leaving for Spain on the second leg of his four-nation trip.

Modi met Steinmeier at Castle Bellevue, the scenic official residence of the German President located in Berlin's Tiergarten district on the banks of the river Spree, and signed the visitor's book before being given a tour of the castle.

"Thank you Germany! My visit has led to very positive outcomes in terms of furthering the close ties India and Germany enjoy," Modi said in his goodbye message as he left for Spain on the second leg of his four-nation tour which will then cover Russia and end in France.

From Spain, he will travel to St Petersburg in Russia on June 1 where he will hold the 18th India-Russia annual Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum the next day.

The prime minister will be in Paris on June 2 and 3 where he will hold official talks with newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron with a view to further strengthening India-France strategic ties.

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 10:17 PM

Next Stop, Spain

After meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany, PM Modi has left for Spain — the second country in his four-nation tour.

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 8:19 PM

India Discusses Football, Counter-Terrorism With Germany

Praising Chancellor Merkel’s leadership, in an official address, PM Modi said:

Be it in bilateral relations or humanitarian issues; regional or global issues, every discussion with Chancellor Merkel has been very beneficial for me. We need strong leadership like hers. Our cooperation in areas like renewable energy is gaining momentum.

He also said football is one of the topics to be discussed in their agenda.

We are in Germany to discuss how to provide better coaching for football players back in India…since Germany has internationally gained fame in the world of sports with its football team.

“We have asked Germany to come work with us in India’s civil aviation industry which is one of the world’s best currently,” Modi said, adding that the countries will also engage in counter-terrorism plans together.

In the concluding end of the joint statement with Merkel, Modi said, "we are made for each other".

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 3:47 PM

India is Developing its Solar Energy at a Quick Pace: Merkel

In an official statement, German Chancellor Merkel said India has made quick development in the sector of solar power.

India knows that climate change is a very challenging issue. We also had a discussion on terrorism and the threats it poses because its affects everyone. Counter-terrorism is in Germany’s agenda and india has been supporting G20 agenda.

Merkel and Modi held on Monday evening held talks on regional and global issues from climate change to Afghanistan and terrorism.

India and Germany signed agreements/declaration amounting to a total of 1 billion euros goes into development cooperation.

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 3:25 PM

Merkel and Mdi Issue Joint Statement

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 3:11 PM

Modi and Merkel's "Very Good Interaction"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had a "very good interaction" when he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday at her country retreat near Berlin for informal talks over a private dinner.

The two leaders enjoyed the sunshine with a walk in the grounds of Schloss Meseberg, an 18th century Baroque castle in the Brandenburg district of Germany which is the official state guest house of the German Chancellor.

The meeting has been described as a very informal affair, with the more formal engagements of Modi's two-day visit to Germany set to kick off on Tuesday.

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 4:39 AM

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Indian Delegation Dines with German Counterparts

Modi's accompanying delegation of senior ministers, including Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, are also holding talks with their German counterparts.

In an interview with German newspaper, 'Handelsblatt', PM Modi had urged Europe to play a lead role in tackling the menace of terrorism.

Europe has been hit hard by terrorism. To our mind, terrorism is the gravest challenge facing humanity. Europe must play a lead role in developing an effective global response under the aegis of the United Nations to deal with this menace.

Updated at:30th May, 2017 at 4:39 AM

PM Modi Meets Chancellor Merkel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met German Chancellor Angela Merkel upon arriving in Germany, the first stop in his six-day Europe tour.

They interacted at the Schloss Meseberg's garden.

Updated at:29th May, 2017 at 11:44 PM

On Matters of Terrorism and Immigration

In an interview to German newspaper Handelsblatt Modi said, “Europe has been hit hard by terrorism.”

To our mind, terrorism is the gravest challenge facing humanity. Europe must play a lead role in developing an effective global response under the aegis of the United Nations to deal with this menace.

Modi's remarks assume significance as they come in the wake of a spate of terror attacks that have struck European countries like Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden recently.

The latest terror attack to have rocked Europe was at a concert in Manchester where a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 22 people.

Speaking to the country's leading business daily, Modi struck a warning note against moves towards protectionism and called for Europe to ensure that the global economy ‘remains open for international trade and free flow of investment and people’.

We do have concerns regarding protectionist and anti-immigrant sentiments in the world. We are hopeful that they will be addressed. We live in an interconnected world. Movement of goods, capital, and people across borders is essential to our collective progress and to realise the benefits of globalisation.

Modi stressed the importance of India to Germany, stating that it was as among the ‘most open’ and ‘fastest growing major economies in the world’.

On the Indo-German ties, he said that India sees Germany as an important partner in the national flagship programmes of Make in India, Skill India, Start-up India, Clean India, and Smart Cities.

Updated at:29th May, 2017 at 9:49 PM

Indo-Germany Business Forum to be Held Tomorrow

Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merkel will have a luncheon meeting with senior business leaders before inaugurating the Indo-German Business Forum on Tuesday.

The deadlocked Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) is likely to take centre-stage at this meeting, with Germany-based CEOs keen to push for a further opening up of the Indian market.

The India-Germany Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), among India's 23 BITs with EU countries, had lapsed in March this year. Trade between the two countries stands at 17.42 billion euros as of 2016, up only marginally from 17.33 billion euros the previous year.

Updated at:29th May, 2017 at 9:49 PM

Modi Arrives in Germany

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Germany today on the first leg of his six-day, four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia, and France. The tour is aimed at boosting bilateral economic engagement and inviting more investment for India's transformation.

His visit to Germany, which he described as a ‘new chapter’ in bilateral relations, will commence with a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel at her country retreat of Schloss Meseberg.

Both leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest in an informal setting over dinner at the 18th-century palace, nearly 80 km northwest of Berlin.

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Updated at:29th May, 2017 at 9:49 PM