Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday embarked on a six-day, four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France to boost India’s economic engagement with these nations and invite more investment.
Here are the latest updates:
"India has proved to be a reliable partner. We have been able to deepen cooperation," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters after talks with Mr. Modi.
At a joint press meet with Ms. Merkel, Mr. Modi spoke about counter-terrorism. "Terrorism poses a grave threat to future generations. Humanitarian forces must unite to combat the menace," he said.
To sign 8 agreements
India and Germany will be signing eight agreements on cyber issues, urban development, skill development, Digital India, railway safety, education, and sustainability.
The Prime Minister and Ms. Merkel held the fourth round of the Iinter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) to set a road map for the bilateral strategic ties.
Mr. Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome with military honours at the Chancellery, the office of the German Chancellor, where he was greeted by Ms. Merkel and senior officials.
Mr. Modi is holding formal talks with Ms. Merkel as part of the IGC — held every two years — where he is joined by his delegation of senior ministers, including Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Energy Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar.
The last IGC was held in New Delhi in October, 2015, when bilateral ties were significantly scaled up.
In informal talks on Monday, both leaders exchanged views on China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative and climate change.
“Had a very good interaction with Chancellor Merkel,” Mr. Modi tweeted.
“The interaction lasted nearly three hours, and covered various areas of mutual interest, including smart cities, skill development, clean energy etc. There was appreciation of India’s economic reform agenda, including GST [Goods and Services Tax],” a Prime Minister’s Office statement said.
Germany was expected to raise issues on trade with India after the bilateral treaty lapsed this year and push for the resumption of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement talks.
Mr. Modi is likely to pitch for his government’s recent reforms on foreign investment and the rollout of the GST to attract more German investments, and take trade beyond its current levels of €17.42 billion. Read more
In a candid statement last week, German Ambassador Martin Ney had said the “common questions” both India and Germany share about China’s Belt and Road Initiative will be discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Berlin visit, even as both nations explore joint projects for connectivity and development in Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Modi meets Priyanka Chopra in Berlin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took some time out of his hectic schedule of bilateral talks and meetings in Berlin to meet Indian filmstar Priyanka Chopra, reports PTI.
The actor was in the city for a special promotion of her latest film, Baywatch .
The actress took to Twitter to share a picture with the prime minister.
Chopra and her co-stars from the film, including Baywatch veteran David Hasselhoff, are also staying at the same hotel as the PM, overlooking Brandenburg Gate.
Here is a quick look on the foreign tours undertaken by Mr. Modi in recent times.
First Indian PM to visit Spain in 3 decades
On Tuesday, Mr. Modi will travel to Spain, the first by an Indian prime minister in almost three decades. He will call on King Felipe VI and hold talks with President Mariano Rajoy.
Mr. Modi will discuss ways to enhance bilateral engagement, especially in the economic sphere, and cooperation on international issues of common concern, particularly in combating terrorism. He will also meet top CEOs of Spanish industry and encourage them to partner in the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
India-Russia Annual Summit
From Spain, he will travel to St. Petersburg in Russia from May 31 to June 2 for the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit. Mr. Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will also interact with CEOs from both the countries.
On June 2, Mr. Modi and Mr. Putin will address the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where India is the ‘guest country’. At the beginning of his visit, Mr. Modi will go to Piskarovskoye Cemetery to pay homage to those who perished during the siege of Leningrad. He will also visit the world famous State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Oriental manuscripts.
To France
In the last leg of his tour, Mr. Modi will visit France from June 2 to 3 for an official meeting with the newly-elected French President, Emmanuel Macron.
France is India’s 9th largest investment partner and a key partner in its development initiatives in the area of defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railwayss.
