Though, sheen of a first joint cabinet meeting was taken away as two senior German ministers dropped out from delegation last minute, due to internal exigencies, both sides did agreed to enhance ties in key areas of defence manufacturing and also sorted out language row.
India and Germany on Monday inked 18 agreements, ranging from cooperation in security issues, fast tracking investment proposals, a new assistance package of over a billion Euros for solar projects and deepening partnership in higher education and research. During wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both countries without naming China, stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in international waters and emphasised commitment to the reconstruction of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.
Though, sheen of a first joint cabinet meeting was taken away as two senior German ministers dropped out from delegation last minute, due to internal exigencies, both sides did agreed to enhance ties in key areas of defence manufacturing and also sorted out language row.
German minister of defence Ursula von der Leyen and minister of economic affairs and energy Sigmar Gabriel didn't accompany Merkel, indicating that further discussions were required for supplying of submarines some major on defence contracts, even though both sides argued that defence contracts were linked to tendering processes and not government decessions.
Both sides also resolved language row. Giving details, foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the New Delhi-based Goethe-Institute will enter into an agreement with Kendriya Vidhalaya Sangathan on adding German as an optional foreign language in central schools.
In return, Ministry of human resources development will enter into separate agreements with German states to promote five modern Indian languages including Sanskrit in German schools. A source privy to discussions told dna, that German delegation was initially stunned to see Sanskrit also in the list, as they had agreed to promote five modern Indian languages in their country. They were told that according to national educational framework policy of 2005 in India, Sanskrit figures in the category of modern Indian language, and not 'prakrit'(ancient) or a dead language.
Both the countries also stressed their full commitment to IAEA's safeguards and reaffirmed the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN security council especially its expansion in both permanent and non permanent categories. Both the leaders renewed their determination to expand bilateral trade and investment. They agreed that new policies including Make in India have the potential to open up investment opportunities for German companies.
Germany also committed 120 million Euro for a project in upper Ganga river basin aiming at a comprehensive improvement of water quality in the river. Both countries established two working groups for collaboration in water and waste management.
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