In what would be his first visit abroad this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2-4 during which he would not only be meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz but also attend the 2nd India-Nordic Summit.
In Berlin, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Scholz and the two leaders will co-chair the sixth edition of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). The biennial IGC is a unique dialogue format that also sees participation of several Ministers from both sides. This will be the Prime Minister's first IGC with Chancellor Scholz, and also the first such Government-to-Government consultations of the new German government, which assumed office in December 2021. During his visit, Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz would also jointly address a Business Event. The Prime Minister will address and interact with the Indian community in Germany.
"In 2021, India and Germany commemorated 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations and have been strategic partners since 2000. This visit will be an opportunity to enhance and intensify cooperation in a broad range of areas and for the two governments to exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement today.
Also Read: Are India and France destined to become soul-mates after Macron’s victory?
Prime Minister Modi will thereafter travel to Copenhagen at the invitation of the Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. He will also participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit being hosted by Denmark.
The bilateral component of the visit will include talks with PM Frederiksen as well as an audience with Queen Margrethe II. The Green Strategic Partnership was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark. The visit would provide both sides an opportunity to review its progress, as well as examine ways to further expand our multifaceted cooperation. During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend an India-Denmark Business Forum and also address members of the Indian diaspora.
During the 2nd India-Nordic Summit, PM Modi will also interact with other Nordic leaders – Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden and Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland. The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region. The 1st India-Nordic Summit took place in 2018 in Stockholm.
On his return journey on May 4, PM Modi will briefly stop over in Paris and meet French President Emmanuel Macron. India and France are celebrating 75 years of their diplomatic relations this year and the meeting between the two leaders will set a more ambitious agenda of the Strategic Partnership.
Also Read: India rejects ‘piecemeal’ reforms of the UN system
