German Chancellor arrives in India: Merz begins first official visit

NEW DELHI: German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived astatine Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport connected Monday for a two-day authoritative sojourn to India from January 12 to 13.

The sojourn comes astatine the invitation of PM Modi and marks Chancellor Merz’s archetypal authoritative travel to the country.PM Modi is scheduled to conscionable Merz successful Ahmedabad today. Their itinerary includes a sojourn to the Sabarmati Ashram astatine astir 9.30 am, followed by information successful the International Kite Festival astatine the Sabarmati Riverfront astatine astir 10 am. Bilateral engagements volition statesman from 11.15 americium onwards astatine Mahatma Mandir successful Gandhinagar.During the meetings, the leaders are expected to reappraisal advancement successful the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which precocious celebrated its 25th anniversary. Discussions volition absorption connected further intensifying practice successful commercialized and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, portion advancing collaboration successful defence and security, science, innovation and research, greenish and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

The sojourn builds connected momentum from regular high-level governmental interactions betwixt India and Germany. The 2 leaders past met connected the sidelines of the G7 Summit successful Canada, wherever they agreed to further broaden the bilateral strategical partnership. During that interaction, PM Modi extended an invitation to Merz for an authoritative sojourn to India.The sojourn is besides important successful the lead-up to the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27. Speaking astir India-Germany cooperation, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann precocious highlighted collaboration successful defence and security, asserting that “the strategical concern betwixt the nations has grown implicit the years.”