Chancellor Merkel is a Great Friend of India: PM Modi

German Chancellor received a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

By Onkareshwar Pandey

New Delhi, November 01, 2019: India and Germany will launch dedicated research cooperation on Artificial Intelligence addressing several societal issues pertaining to cybersecurity. 

Both countries have acknowledged the need to further deepen bilateral defence cooperation as strategic partners to jointly address global and regional security challenges.

“India and Germany can work together in areas like artificial intelligence, skills, education and more. We welcome German cooperation in our plans for smart cities, e-moblility and harnessing water resources. Defence corridors also bring many opportunities for German companies,” Prime Minister said in a series of Tweet after meeting German Chancellor Angela Markel in New Delhi.

The Joint statement issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Markel in New Delhi said that both sides agreed to develop stronger cooperation in Defence Industry testing and certification, especially for design certification of various systems.

Seventeen agreements have been signed between India and Germany in the fields of agriculture, maritime technology, Ayurveda and yoga among others, the external affairs ministry said.

Five joint declarations of intent were also exchanged between India and Germany, the ministry said in a statement.

The joint declarations of intent included cooperation on strategic projects, partnership for green urban mobility, research, and development on artificial intelligence and cooperation in the field of prevention of marine litter, it said.

They also reaffirmed the importance of building a Digital Partnership to intensify regular interaction and coordination towards collaboration on next-generation technologies.

Both sides said that strong and effective multilateral cooperation is key to secure peace, stability and prosperity. They said, major challenges of our time, by their nature and global scope, cannot be addressed by countries separately but must be tackled jointly.

“Today’s talks with Chancellor Merkel were extensive and fruitful. We reviewed the full range of India-Germany relations. Chancellor Merkel has distinguished herself as one of the most widely respected world leaders. She is also a great friend of India’s, PM Modi Tweeted.

The two leaders underlined the need for all countries to ensure that their territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries in any manner.

The two leaders stressed the importance of the combined effort of all countries to fight global terrorism and to send out a consistent message that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is not acceptable.

Referring to the need for presenting a united front in the fight against this global menace, the two leaders called for the finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in March 2020.

Germany and India also agreed on consulting each other on identifying best possible approaches on cyber-security and also device methods to identify areas of mutual cooperation in this regard. Both sides reiterated their determination to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

They confirmed the importance of a balanced Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union and agreed to deepen efforts to restart negotiations between the EU and India on the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement.

Both sides also expressed their intent to work together to foster, encourage and develop cooperation on Artificial Intelligence technologies and thereby promote innovation and sustainable development.

PM Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Gandhi Smriti to offer their respects. This year marked the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 

Terrorism is a Global Threat, Must be Fought Jointly: President Kovind

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in India for a two-day visit, received a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today and said the two countries were linked by close ties.

Underlining that Indo-German relations are progressing well, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said they needed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and coordinate their positions at meetings of the Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental organisation to combat money laundering.

The President said that “Terrorism is a global threat that must be fought jointly by the world community and terrorist safe havens eliminated in every part of the world. India and Germany need to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism as well as coordinate their positions at the Financial Action Task Force meetings.”

Welcoming German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a two-day visit to India, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr. Kovind said both countries were rightful claimants to a permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council. “In this regard, our cooperation as part of G-4 is important,” he said.

German Minister for Education & Research calls on Dr Harsh Vardhan

The German Federal Minister for Education & Research, Ms. Anja Karliczek called on the Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health &Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan here today to discuss various activities under Science and Technology and status of research – cooperation between both countries.

Ms. Karliczek and Dr. Harsh Vardhan expressed their happiness on Joint Declaration Intent to launch dedicated research cooperation on Artificial Intelligence addressing several societal issues pertaining to cybersecurity. 

The interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems programme launched in India last year by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) encompasses all elements including Artificial Intelligence, Internet of things etc. This new initiative with Germany will be operated through the existing Indo-German Science and Technology Centre at Gurugram.

The visiting Minister and Dr. Harsh Vardhan expressed satisfaction on research Cooperation between the two countries for the past few decades through which 2,000 scientists, scholars and students from both countries have exchanged their knowledge through networking visits supported by the DST under Government of India and Ministry of Education and Research, Government of Germany.

They also acknowledged the progress of Indo-German Science and Technology Centre jointly established by the two Governments from 2010 onwards.  The Centre supports in 2+2 (involving industry and academia from both sides) mode for translation of research into products /processes and services, serving as unique model of research partnership for socioeconomic contribution through technological intervention. 

These projects have been on the themes of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Biotechnology / Bioeconomy, embedded system and ICT, biomedical technologies, sustainable energy / energy materials for storage, efficiency, environment, water and wastewater management and Smart Cities – integrated water management and sanitation systems for urban settings technologies for waste utilisation.

Indian and German scientists are also cooperating with other international community on Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) at Darmstadt, Germany.  The FAIR facility is under development at present. 

Ms. Karliczek is on a visit to India as a part of the German delegation led by Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel.  The delegation also participated today in the 5th edition of the Inter-Governmental Consultations between India and Germany.  In the presence of the Indian and German high level delegations led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, the Joint Declaration for cooperation in Artificial Intelligence was exchanged today.  

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(Onkareshwar Pandey is Founder, Editor in Chief & CEO, Indian Observer Post and former Senior Group Editor- Rashtriya Sahara (Hindi & Urdu) and also former Editor, (News), ANI. http://bit.ly/2mh7hih)