New Delhi: Finding a solution to put an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s increasing deployments in the Indo-Pacific region and the plan by German firms to shift their focus from China to India are some of the issues that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will discuss with Prime Minister Narendra during his maiden visit to India starting Saturday.


In an exclusive interview to ABP Live, Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Germany to India, said one of the main objectives of Chancellor Scholz’s visit to India is maintaining “regular interaction” with the Indian government and enhancing bilateral ties from business to strategic affairs.


"I expect the Chancellor and PM Modi to discuss what's going on in the world right now and comparing notes on how to tackle the problems we are facing," Ackermann told ABP Live, adding that Berlin wants to “intensify” two-way business ties even as its tensions with Beijing continue to rise strategically.  


"German businesses have decided to diversify, they want to move away from their focus on China to look to other shores and India certainly is one country that comes to mind when you think of an alternative to China," he said.


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Chancellor Scholz, who is coming on a two-day trip to India on February 25-26, will be accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation. Apart from New Delhi, he will also be visiting Bengaluru.


He is expected to visit New Delhi again in September this year for the G-20 Summit, which will be hosted by India.


"Germany is by far the biggest trading partner of India inside Europe. We have a trade balance of Euros 30 billion a year which is basically quite a lot and which has grown over the years despite Covid. It's a balanced trade balance with Euros 15 billion on the Indian side and Euros 15 billion on the German side, which is unusual," Ackermann said.


He added that while the German industry is keen on the implementation of the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement, it will nevertheless continue to invest in this country as it looks for other bigger markets vis-à-vis China.


"With China the tensions are elsewhere. The business is going (on). It's not such a problem. But we feel that we should not put our eggs in one basket and we feel that we should look elsewhere. So that's why I think India being the only country that is in a comparable size and market wise similar to China is very important for us," said the German envoy.


Chancellor Scholz visited China in November 2022 and met President Xi Jinping to mark the 50th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations. He became the first European leader to visit China in three years.


Concerns Over China's Actions In Indo-Pacific


Ackermann said while business ties between Berlin and Beijing are going on seamlessly, Germany is concerned over the growing deployments by China in the Indo-Pacific region.


"Our relationship with China is manifold. There is a partner idea when it comes to business but there is also a competitive idea, and also a rival idea," he said.


He underscored: "We see with a certain concern the activities China has deployed in the Indo-Pacific and therefore I think India and Germany and others are working together cooperating to make a statement that this is not unobserved and is also matched by appropriate measures. Therefore I think (India) can count on Germany in the months to come." 


Germany came out with its own version of Indo-Pacific policy in September 2020 focussing on a rules-based international order.


Germany, as part of its Indo-Pacific policy, and in order to enhance its defence and strategic ties with India had sent its warship ‘Bayern’ in Mumbai in January 2022 focussing on maritime security cooperation.


Last week, Germany’s Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the German Chancellor Jens Plötner visited India and met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.


During his visit, he said Germany is concerned over the ongoing military standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).



India Can Play 'Important Role' In Defusing Russia-Ukraine War


The Ambassador also said that New Delhi has an "important role to play" in finding a solution to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that will complete a year on February 24.


"India is an important actor on the world stage. India is not part of either group — not the Russians and not the West — and has a very old and long-standing relation with Russia. So I think it is appropriate that India can come into the game and also try to find solutions to the conflict. In order to get a result, you need to have some preparedness and readiness on both sides and when I see the Russian side I don't see this readiness coming," he said.


Ackermann added that the fact the war dragged on for a year has taken the Russians by “surprise” as they thought they would win the war but the contrary happened.


"Russians were most surprised that the war has now continued for one year. Russians thought that they would win in no time. So that was not on their agenda that this war would last. But I think there is a decisiveness on the Russian side to go on with this war," said Ackermann.


He stressed: "I don't see any signs in Russia to sit down for serious negotiations and try to bring this war to an end. Therefore, I think the Indian side must weigh very carefully when it comes in and I don't think that the moment is there yet but I know that the Indian side is very carefully observing the situation and they will at some stage come into the game and we would welcome that."