Key Highlights
- India and Germany will come together and continue to fight it resolutely," PM Modi said in a joint press conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad. advertisementMerz is on a maiden two-day visit to India and interacted with PM Modi at the International Kite Festival, where they flew kites together and interacted with artisans and craftsmen.
- The two leaders also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram.
- During the press conference, PM Modi said India and Germany discussed the recent developments in Ukraine and Gaza and reiterated support for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. The Prime Minister underscored the growing depth of its partnership with Germany, linking the two countries' historical connections with an expanding modern collaboration across trade, technology, defence and global issues. Defence collaboration also featured prominently during the talks with Merz, with PM Modi saying that India and Germany's growing partnership aligned with India's vision and opening new avenues for defence trade."People-to-people ties were highlighted as a strong pillar of the relationship, with initiatives such as the Global Skills Partnership and new steps to cooperate in sports seen as strengthening societal links," PM Modi said. The two countries also stressed the need for reform of global institutions to effectively address contemporary challenges, pointing to their joint efforts through the G4 to push for reform of the UN Security Council, he added. Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and joint efforts for the development of the Global South were reaffirmed during the talks, the Prime Minister further said. Emphasising economic cooperation as vital for global stability, PM Modi noted that bilateral trade crossed an all-time high of USD 50 billion, with more than 2,000 German companies operating in and trusting India."The decision to establish an India-Germany Centre of Excellence and launch a new green hydrogen project is a potential game-changer, while MoUs signed during the visit are expected to add fresh momentum to cooperation," he said. PM Modi said that India was aiming to strengthen cultural collaboration with the European nation, announcing the integration of Germany's National Maritime Museum with the National Maritime Heritage Museum, which is being developed, in Lothal.- EndsPublished By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Jan 12, 2026Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Narendra Modi#AhmedabadWatch Live TV.
