German Ambassador praises 75 years of Indo-German diplomacy ahead of Merz`s historic visit
On German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's India (Ahmedabad and Bengaluru) visit, Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, said, "India and Germany celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership last year. This year, we are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. So the year marking the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations starts with the Chancellor's visit. It's a good and strong signal... One should not underestimate because it's his first bilateral visit outside the EU-US framework. He has never been in another country on a bilateral visit... The reason it is happening in Ahmedabad is that the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) was so kind as to invite us there. We have to see it as a particular gesture of friendship and warmth on the Prime Minister's part to invite the Chancellor to his hometown. We on the German side really appreciate this gesture... It is a fabulous place to meet the Prime Minister.... Bengaluru is a very important hub for us. There is a lot of German business there. We will see a couple of German companies and will bring a couple of German CEOs..." On the agendas of German Chancellor's visit, he said, "...The Chancellor and the Prime Minister will interact with the business delegation from India and Germany, a mixed delegation. So the question is how Indo-German relations in the field of business and economy can be strengthened and enhanced is one big item on the agenda. But there's also the question of migration on the agenda... Another agenda is the growing defence and security cooperation between the two countries, which has a lot of potential. There will be a joint declaration of intent signed to develop a roadmap for security and defence cooperation... last but not least, the two leaders will exchange views on the geopolitical situation..."
