New Delhi: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India on Saturday (February 25, 2023) and said that the two countries already have “very good” relations, which he wants to “strengthen” during his two-day visit. Scholz is scheduled to hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, after which he will leave for Bengaluru, Karnataka on Sunday.
“India and Germany already have very good relations. We hope to strengthen this very good relationship and we will have in-depth discussions on all topics relevant to the development of our countries and peace in the world,” he said. Said on coming to Delhi.
This is Scholz’s first visit to India since becoming German Chancellor in December 2021 after Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure at the top post.
Welcome to India!
german chancellor @Chancellor Olaf Scholz reached New Delhi on a state visit. This is his first visit to India after taking charge.
MoS welcomes Chancellor Scholz @FinMinIndia @mppchaudhary At the airport. pic.twitter.com/7VtIQIsJti— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 25, 2023
People familiar with the broad agenda of the Modi-Scholz talks said the fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to figure prominently during the deliberations.
He also said that the talks will also focus on increasing cooperation in the areas of trade, defence, clean energy, climate change and new technologies.
The two leaders are also likely to deliberate on the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific region, a region that has seen increasing Chinese assertiveness over the past few years.
Early last year, Modi and Scholz held bilateral talks in the Indonesian resort city of Bali on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.
The first meeting between the two leaders took place on May 2 last year during Modi’s visit to Berlin for the 6th Indo-German Inter-Governmental Dialogue (IGC).
Modi then visited the Alpine palace of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany to attend the annual summit of the G7 group on June 26 and 27.
Scholz invited Modi to the G7 summit under the German presidency.
In the last few years, relations between India and Germany have been strengthened in several key areas.