Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Germany, Denmark, and France from May 2 to 4. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit abroad this year. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, meanwhile, will visit Bangladesh and Bhutan from April 28 to 30.
Giving details of the Prime Minister’s visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said Modi will hold bilateral talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, 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 the participation of several Ministers from both the 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, Modi and Scholz will also jointly address a business event. Modi 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.
The Prime Minister will thereafter travel to Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. He will also participate in the second India-Nordic Summit being hosted by Denmark. The bilateral component of the visit will include talks with Frederiksen as well as an audience with Her Majesty 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, Modi will attend an India-Denmark Business Forum and also address members of the Indian diaspora.
During the second India-Nordic Summit, the Prime Minister will also interact with other Nordic leaders -- Prime Minister KatrÃn 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 first India-Nordic Summit took place in 2018 in Stockholm.
On his return journey on May 4, 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.
On Jaishankar’s schedule, the Ministry said during his visit to Bangladesh, he will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He will also hold discussions with Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen.
The forthcoming visit of the Minister to Bangladesh may be seen in the context of frequent bilateral high-level visits and exchanges particularly as both sides commemorate fifty years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. The last visit by the external affairs ministry to Bangladesh was in March 2021.
The External Affairs Minister will be Bhutan’s first high-level visitor from abroad since March 2020, reflecting the great importance both the countries attach to this bilateral relationship.
During the visit, the External Affairs Minister will receive an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, and will call on Prime Minister Lyonchhen Dr Lotay Tshering. Jaishankar will also meet his counterpart Lyonpo Dr Tandi Dorji.
India and Bhutan share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterized by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding. During the visit, the two sides will discuss all issues of mutual interest, including the upcoming high-level exchanges, economic development, and hydro-power cooperation.