Page 4 - The Indian EYE 030323

BIG STORY MARCH 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 4

GERMAN CHANCELLOR IN INDIA

AN EYE ON

CHINA?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India coincides with the completion of one year
of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and comes after the recent Chinese spy balloon episode that has

created ripples in world geopolitics. Is a new partnership emerging?

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Berlin
erman Chancellor Olaf
Scholz’s visit to India on Sat-
Gurday is the first standalone
one by any German leader since the
commencement of the Inter-Govern-
mental Consultation (IGC) mech-
anism between the two countries
in 2011. His visit coincides with the
completion of one year of the Rus-
sia-Ukraine conflict and comes after
the recent Chinese spy balloon epi-
sode that has created ripples in world
geopolitics.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is paying
a State visit to India from February
25-26. He is accompanied by senior Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz at the Business Roundtable, at the Federal Chancellery,
officials and a high-powered business
delegation. He arrived in New Delhi in Berlin on Monday (PIB/ANI)
on February 25th and proceeded to
Bengaluru on February 26th. a plenary session chaired by Modi India and Germany share a visit to India, since taking the charge,
Chancellor Scholz was accorded and Scholz. strong economic partnership. Ger- German envoy Philipp Ackermann
a ceremonial welcome at the fore- The Chancellor’s visit came af- many is India’s largest trade partner said here on Wednesday.
court of Rastafari Bhavan. Prime ter a year of renewed engagement in the European Union and has con- Stating that ‘geopolitics’ was the
Minister and Chancellor held discus- between India and Germany. PM sistently been among India’s top 10 key element of Chancellor Scholz’s
sions on bilateral, regional and global Modi and Chancellor Scholz met global trade partners. It is also one of talk with Prime Minister Narendra
issues. The two leaders also interact- on three occasions in 2022: For the the largest foreign direct investors in Modi, the envoy said that there is
ed with CEOs and business leaders 6th India-Germany Inter-Govern- India. an ample opportunity to discuss the
of both sides. mental Consultations (May 2, 2022) As a symbol of close econom- difficult international environment
Many things, including econom- when PM visited Berlin, with his del- ic ties and the strong potential for where “we see India as a very influ-
ic cooperation, the Green and Sus- egation (Finance Minister, EAM, enhanced cooperation, Chancel- ential and extremely valuable part-
tainable Development Partnership NSA, MOS (I/C) DST and Secretary lor Scholz was accompanied by a ner” in discussing these questions.
(GSDP) and Indo-Pacific were on DPIIT); Chancellor invited PM for high-powered business delegation. “But I think it shouldn’t be restrict-
the agenda when he met Prime Min- the G7 Summit held under German During the visit, Modi and Scholz ed to that. Your northern neighbor
ister Narendra Modi. The IGC is a Presidency in June 2022 in Schloss also addressed a Business Roundta- China certainly be on the agenda.
whole-of-government mechanism Elmau, Bavaria, for which India was ble, comprising top industry leaders Everything which is linked Indo-Pa-
which brings together ministers and a partner country and the two lead- from both sides. cific will be on the agenda and I think
officials from both sides, who hold ers interacted on the sidelines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Chi- that there is an ample opportunity to
discussions in their domain areas and G20 Summit held in Bali in Novem- na were “high on agenda” of Chan- discuss a very difficult international
then report on the discussions during ber 2022. cellor Olaf Scholz’s first bilateral Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com