May 30, 2017 by admin

Delhi, Berlin to talk trade, defence

New Delhi, May 30
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Germany at the start of his four-nation six-day tour of Europe.
The PM’s visit comes at a time when German Chancellor Angela Merkel has sounded the first shift in the European Union Policies: that the continent needs to protect its interests and could no longer bank on the US or the UK.
After Germany, Modi would visit Spain, Russia and France. All the visits assume significance because of the changes undergoing in Europe. Modi’s meeting in Paris with new French President Emmanuel Macron would also be keenly followed.
The official part of Modi’s visit begins tomorrow when he will be welcomed with military honours at the Chancellery in Berlin. After a private dinner with Merkel at her country retreat of Schloss Meseberg, Modi tweeted: “Had a very good interaction with Chancellor Merkel.”
Trade, investment, counter-terrorism and defence top the agenda when the two sides hold talks during the fourth round of the bi-annual India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) tomorrow. Germany is keen to see forward movement on the negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which began in 2007.
China’s ambitious “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) initiative is also likely to come up for discussion. India had boycotted the OBOR Summit in Beijing due to sovereignty concerns. Germany had attended it, but had its reservations about the project which aims for a Sino-centric order. German Ambassador to India Martin Ney spelt the German position clearly when he recently said, “OBOR is very different from the ancient Silk Road. It’s not about free trade, but is a trade-enhancing measure by China.”