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India, Germany agree to broaden bilateral cooperation

Last Updated 04 May 2018, 10:09 IST

India and Germany today agreed to broaden their cooperation and "shape the future" with focus on trade, bilateral investment, energy, hi-tech and defence even as both sides committed themselves to EU-India negotiations for a "broad based, ambitious and balanced" FTA.

Besides agreeing to greater cooperation at all international bodies, both sides agreed to continue working together to prepare the ground for India to accede to the export control regimes as a full member and thereby strengthen the international non-proliferation regime.

"The Indo-German cooperation opens up excellent prospects for developing both countries to the benefit of their peoples.

"Germany and India share the view that new initiatives in the area of trade, bilateral investment, energy, energy security, the environment, culture, education, training, research, technology and defence can catalyse and activate the great potential of their bilateral ties," said a joint statement released at the end of the Indo-German intergovernmental consultations held here.

The meeting was co-chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany and India are determined to further expand their cooperation in higher education, research and technology – dynamic core areas of the Indo-German Partnership – and to open up new and innovative areas of cooperation, the statement said.

The statement titled 'Shaping the future together' noted that close trade and investment relations are a core dimension of bilateral partnership and of great importance for the development of both the Indian and the German economy.

"Both Governments will strongly back a further intensification of Indo-German business cooperation. Both sides would encourage cooperation in the field of rare earths on mutually beneficial terms. Both Governments recognize that expanding high technology trade and cooperation is key to deepening the strategic content of their relations.

"Both sides agree to consult regularly on advancing this objective and to this end form a High Technology Partnership Group including both government and business," it said.

Both sides emphasised that freedom of movement for business visitors and professionals is important for the sustained growth of trade and investment flows. Both sides agreed to work together to facilitate such movement between the two countries.

Germany and India reaffirmed that they will continue their successful development cooperation in a spirit of partnership.

Assisting projects with innovative approaches in the mutually identified priority areas of energy, environment and sustainable economic development support India's inclusive development and poverty reduction programmes, the statement said.

Germany and India expressed satisfaction at the deepening comprehensive bilateral relations between India and EU and "recognise that both India and EU, as long-standing strategic partners, are committed to working together to reinforce the relationship in all areas".

"The leaders underline their strong commitment to a successful outcome to the EU India negotiations for a broad based, ambitious and balanced Free Trade Agreement that will generate jobs and growth in both countries and their hope for final agreement in 2013," the statement said.

It added that Germany and India will seek to intensify consultations within the G20 and strengthen the G20's role as the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation.

"Both sides will therefore make strenuous efforts to achieve a consensus on trade facilitation by a balanced package of issues this year at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference so as to ensure there is still a prospect of bringing the Doha Round to a conclusion," it said.

On the security front, both sides agreed to intensify further their exchange of views and experience on combating terrorism as well as their practical cooperation in this connection, also in the Indo-German Working Group on Counter-Terrorism as well as multilateral forums.

"In the light of new security challenges both sides are keen to intensify their security policy dialogue and exchange of views.

"Both sides expressed their keenness to enhance cooperation in the defence sector through dialogue and exchanges on matters of mutual interest, including in the area of defence technology collaboration," the joint statement said.

Germany and India reaffirmed that they will work together for a world without nuclear weapons, for universal and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament and a reduced salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines.

"Both sides agree to cooperate in strengthening global non-proliferation efforts. They noted the contribution of initiatives such as the Hague Code of Conduct against Missile Proliferation and the Proliferation Security Initiative during the last decades and the potential for advancing them in the future.

"Both sides support the IAEA's Safeguards System including the Additional Protocol as the international verification norm. They participate in the discussions on a Draft International Code of Conduct on Outer Space with a view to its adoption as an agreed document of universal adherence. Both sides agree to hold regular consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation issues," the statement said.

Both countries stressed on the importance of national and international efforts to reduce risks of nuclear and radiological terrorism.

"Germany attaches high importance to the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. In this context, India reiterated its commitment for its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing.

"Both sides express their full support for a multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and call for the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament," it said.

The Indo-German Consultative Group provides valuable input for bilateral cooperation. Both heads of government appreciate tribute the intensive and productive work done by its members and are pleased that the Group is to continue its activities.

Germany and India have agreed for a new jointly funded programme entitled "Indo-German Strategic Partnerships in Higher Education" (IGSP), which aims to intensify existing partnerships between German and Indian institutions of higher education.
The programme will focus on establishing joint research projects that will include joint supervision as well as student and academic exchanges in this context, it said

The Indian side appreciates the Dr Angela Merkel scholarships for Indian law students, 50 per cent of whose funding comes from the Jawaharlal Nehru Award prize money received by the Federal Chancellor in 2011 and 50 per cent from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD), as well as the German Chancellor Fellowship Programme, which will offer India an additional 10 fellowships a year, it said.

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(Published 12 April 2013, 08:56 IST)

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