Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his brief stopover in Frankfurt on his way back from Brazil, called up German Chancellor Angela Merkel and extended greetings on her 60th birthday, congratulated Germany for the World Cup win and exchanged invitations for a bilateral summit next year.
While Ms. Merkel invited Mr. Modi to visit Germany and wanted India to partner the Hanover Trade Fair next April, he invited her for inter-governmental consultations between the two nations in Delhi. She accepted the invitation.
Mr. Modi later tweeted: “Germany is India’s valued friend & I look forward to working with Chancellor Merkel to make India’s relations with Germany stronger.”
The two leaders discussed areas of bilateral cooperation and skill development. Mr. Modi was unable to meet Ms. Merkel during his stopover on the way to Brazil earlier this week, as she had left for Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup final. When they do meet, diplomatic sources told The Hindu , Germany is keen on bestowing the Federal Cross, its highest honour for a head of state, on Mr. Modi. India honoured Ms. Merkel with the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 2009.
