New Delhi: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G-7 Summit to be held in Germany in June, PTI reported. PM Modi arrived in Berlin on Monday on the first leg of his three-nation Europe trip. He is also scheduled to visit Denmark and France.
"I invite you as our guest to G7 Summit end of June and we look forward to welcoming you back to Germany. India is among our very important partners. The world can only develop well if we are clear as to the fact that futue relations in the world will be characterised and marked by many countries, not by a few powerful countries," Olaf Scholz said.
The G-7 includes the US, UK, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Canada. Germany currently holds the rotating G-7 presidency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received by Chancellor Scholz at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin upon his arrival for talks. He was accorded the Guard of Honour at the forecourt of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. This was PM Modi's first meeting with Scholz as German Chancellor, who assumed office in December, 2021.
The two leaders thereafter met in one-on-one format followed by delegation level talks. Modi and Scholz then co-chaired the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
The IGC is a biennial dialogue mechanism allowing the two governments to coordinate on a wide spectrum of bilateral matters.
"Delighted that the first Inter-Governmental Consultations of this government took place with India. To me, it's a sign of the special quality of our relationship," Olaf Scholz said while addressing the media.
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Calling India a "super partner" for Germany in Asia, Scholz said these consultations would help deepen the relationship between the two nations.
"India is a super partner for Germany in Asia in economic terms, security policy terms, and climate-political terms. We are ready to continue and deepen the close cooperation with India on global issues," he said.
The German Chancellor also raked up the Russian invasion of Ukraine and appealed to President Vladimir Putin to end the "senseless killing" and withdraw his troops.
"Through its attack on Ukraine, Russia has violated fundamental principles of international law. The war and the brutal attacks against civilian population in Ukraine show how unrestrained Russia has been in violating the fundamental principles of the UN Charter," he said.