Scholz, who arrived late on Thursday night, is on a three-day visit to India.
Speaking at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses, also attended by Scholz, Modi said: “Two of the world’s leading economies, together we can become a force for global good, and the Focus on India document provides a blueprint for this. In this, Germany’s holistic approach and commitment to pursuing the strategic partnership are clearly evident. Especially noteworthy is the trust that Germany has expressed in the skilled workforceof India. Germany has decided to increase the number of visas for skilled Indians from 20,000 to 90,000 per year. I am confident that this will further boost Germany’s economic growth.”
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The two leaders later held bilateral talks, where they discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in West Asia among other issues. India and Germany signed pacts on mutual legal assistance and classified information, and a roadmap on green hydrogen.
“The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of concern for both nations. India has always been of the view that war cannot be a solution to problems. India is ready to make every possible contribution for the restoration of peace,” Modi said after the 7th Inter-Governmental Consultations.
Scholz called upon India to contribute to find a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine. “Especially in times like these, it is of the utmost importance that India is an anchor of stability in South Asia. The international rules-based order has come under massive pressure as a consequence of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine affects Germany and India in many ways. No one can close his or her eyes to the conflict and the impact it has on us. Therefore, I approve that India supports a lasting and just peace, and I am pleased about your readiness to make use of the reliable relations that you have developed with all parties to contribute to a political solution to the conflict,” he said, referring to Modi’s visits to Russia and Ukraine to meet President Vladmir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy respectively in the past four months.
On the conflict in West Asia, Scholz said: “We have to, by all means, avoid a further escalation of the violence in the Middle East. We need to see a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and a political process that leads to a two-state solution.”
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On China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific, he said: “In the Indo-Pacific… we stand up for respect for rules-based international order. The freedom of maritime trades must be respected everywhere.”
Modi highlighted the growing cooperation between India and Germany in the defence and security sectors, citing it as a symbol of their “deep mutual trust”. “The agreement on the exchange of classified information is a new step in this direction… The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty concluded today will strengthen our joint efforts to deal with terrorism and separatist elements,” he said.
Modi defined India-Germany ties as a transformational partnership of two capable and strong democracies and not a transactional relationship. “The world is passing through times of tensions, conflicts and uncertainty. In the Indo-Pacific region, there are serious concerns about the rule of law and freedom of navigation. In times like this, the strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a strong anchor,” he said.
The PM recalled that this was Scholz’s third visit to India and marked the “triple celebration” of the friendship between India and Germany. Scholz visited India twice last year — for a bilateral state visit in February and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September.
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After the talks, eight documents were signed — mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters, agreement on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, Indo-German green hydrogen roadmap, roadmap on innovation and technology, and declarations on employment and labour, R&D on advanced materials, green urban mobility and skill development.
Modi said they agreed that the global forums established in the 20th century were inadequate to address the challenges of the 21st century. “There is a need for reforms in multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council,” he said.
He also welcomed the ‘Focus on India’ strategy announced by Germany. “I am delighted that to expand and elevate our partnership, we are taking several new and important initiatives and moving from the ‘whole of government’ to the ‘whole of nation’ approach,” he said.
“Our overall message is clear, we need more cooperation, not less,” Scholz said. “At our intergovernmental consultations with India, we also want to deepen cooperation in defence and agree to bring our militaries together,” he said.
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Advocating faster conclusion of the India-EU FTA, Scholz said: “India and Germany both benefit in equal measure from this good and trusting cooperation. This is especially true for the field of economic ties. Germany has become India’s most important trading partner in the European Union, and I’m determined to further strengthen and build on this link and cooperation… As Chancellor, I strongly favour an ambitious Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. I believe that both sides would benefit, and it should be our ambition to make headway in that regard.”
After Delhi, Scholz will head to Goa where the German naval frigate ‘Baden-Wuerttemberg’ and combat support ship ‘Frankfurt am Main’ will make a scheduled port call as part of Germany’s Indo-Pacific deployment.