Munich/New Delhi, June 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, their second such meeting in two months. He also held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G7 summit at the Schloss Elmau resort in the Bavarian Alps.
The PM said in tweets that he had had excellent meetings with the German leader and the South African President.
During the talks with Olaf Scholz, the two discussed cooperation in key sectors like commerce and energy and also had deliberations on furthering environmentally friendly growth for the planet.
The PM tweeted: “Excellent meeting with @Bundeskanzler Scholz. Thanked him for the warm hospitality during the @G7 Summit. We discussed cooperation in key sectors like commerce and energy. We also had deliberations on furthering environmentally friendly growth for our planet.”
During the meeting, the German Chancellor emphasised on taking forward the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership signed during the sixth round of the Inter-Governmental Consultations on May 2 in Berlin.
The MEA spokesperson tweeted:
“Meeting on the sidelines of G7, PM @narendramodi and @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz emphasised on taking forward the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership signed during the 6th IGC. Also discussed ways for greater coordination in international bodies.”
The two leaders discussed ways to further diversify the India-Germany friendship for the benefit of our people and the entire planet, the PMO said.
India and Germany established the Strategic Partnership in 2000, and in 2011 launched the Inter-Governmental Consultations at the level of Heads of Government. The IGC is for comprehensive review of the cooperation and to identify new areas of engagement. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism.
In 2021, the two sides marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
During his talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the talks covered economic cooperation, connectivity and deepening of ties in food processing and FinTech.
The PM said in a tweet:
“Glad to have met President @CyrilRamaphosa in Germany. Our talks covered diverse sectors including economic cooperation, improving connectivity and deepening ties in food processing and FinTech.”
The MEA spokesperson said that the two leaders discussed expanding the bilateral ties in trade, investment, defence, pharmaceuticals, food security among other things and agreed to continue close cooperation in regional and multilateral fora.
“PM @narendramodi met President @CyrilRamaphosa of South Africa on the @G7 margins.
Discussed further expanding our bilateral ties in trade, investment, defence, pharmaceuticals, food security and more. Agreed to continue close cooperation in both regional and multilateral fora.”
The PMO said in a tweet:
“Boosting engagement with a valued partner. PM @narendramod and President @CyrilRamaphosa
held talks on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit. They discussed the full range of friendship between India and South Africa including ways to boost trade and people-to-people ties.”
The year 2022 marks 25 years of the strategic partnership with South Africa. President Ramaphosa was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2019.
Both countries cooperate closely in multilateral fora like BRICS and IBSA.
India and South Africa have put forward the TRIPS waiver proposal on Covid-19 vaccines at the WTO. The agreement reached in June 2022 supports the production of Covid-19 vaccines in developing countries.
