New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): During the bilaterals held in New Delhi between EAM Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the two sides welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and the Agreement on Geographical Indications.
As Germany is India’s largest trade partner in the EU, the Indian side expressed its expectation of the country’s continued support in the timely conclusion of negotiations, according to the official statement of the Ministry of External Affairs.
The current state of affairs in Europe, India’s neighbors, the country’s current UNSC Presidency, and India’s current G20 Presidency were just a few of the regional, international, and multilateral topics that the two leaders discussed.
The German government released its Indo-Pacific Guidelines in 2020, and the German naval frigate “Bayern” was sent there. In January 2022, the German frigate conducted a port call in Mumbai. The Indian side hailed Germany’s increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. Germany’s entry into the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative was likewise welcomed by India (IPOI), the MEA said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today signed an agreement on Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi. The agreement has provisions to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for fostering the exchange of skills and talents.
The agreement includes the Academic Evaluation Center in New Delhi, 18 months extended residence permits to students, 3,000 job seeker visas annually, liberalised short stay multiple entry visas and streamlined readmission procedures.
In addition, the agreement will institutionalize a joint working group for further strengthening cooperation in Migration and Mobility. Dr Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, and other senior officials from India and Germany were present at the time of signing the agreement. “The Agreement has specific provisions to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for fostering the exchange of skills and talents. These include Academic Evaluation Center in New Delhi, eighteen months extended residence permits to students, three thousand Job Seeker Visas annually, liberalized short stay multiple entry visas and streamlined readmission procedures,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release.
EAM S Jaishankar held a meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and shared perspectives on several important regional and global issues.
Jaishankar tweeted, “A wide ranging conversation today with FM @ABaerbock of Germany. Took forward our frequent exchanges, this time in greater detail. Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues.”
We support India’s G20 presidency to promote hope, peace, democracy: German MP
Berlin [Germany], December 6 (ANI): Germany supports India‘s G-20 presidency in 2023 to promote hope, peace, and democracy, and to intensify the fight against climate change, said German parliament member Lisa Badum, who is set to visit India.
In a statement released by Badum, her visit will highlight the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with India, adding, “We want to emphasize our solid support for India‘s goal – as formulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi- to use its prestigious G20 presidency in 2023 to promote hope, peace, and democracy, to strengthen the support for the most vulnerable people and nations on earth, and to intensify the fight against climate change.”
The head of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy said, “Our visits to New Delhi, Jaipur, and Bengaluru will focus on deepening the existing exchange with members of the Indian government and parliament, on visiting lighthouse projects of renewable energy and mobility, and on stressing the importance of the work of civil society organisations and start-ups in the fight against the climate crisis and for a just national and global energy transition.”
“We hope for a fruitful exchange that underlines the importance of our partnership. We aim to promote new partnerships like the one between the G7 and India for an energy transition that aims to phase out coal and boost sustainable growth and social justice for all,” she added.
In the statement, Badum also said that India and Germany are robust and powerful countries. But the fight against the climate crisis will not be successful if every country fights independently. Both countries need strong partnerships. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 70 years ago, both countries have formed ties on multiple levels.
“We especially want to highlight the bilateral partnership for green and sustainable development and use the momentum of Cop27 to stress the importance of international climate cooperation and to mobilize all efforts to reach the 1.5-degree-goal.
The Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy was founded in April 2022 by the Foreign Committee of the German Bundestag, highlighting the importance of a coherent German Climate Foreign Policy. Lisa Badum is the head of this Subcommittee and Chairwoman of the Climate Protection and Energy committee. She is furthermore a deputy member of the Economic Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Since 2017 Lisa Badum has been a Member of Alliance 90/The Greens of the German Bundestag for the constituency of Bamberg. (ANI)
