Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz arrived in Indian capital on Saturday where he is expected to hold discussions with the Indian prime minister Russias war in Ukraine and ways to increase bilateral economic cooperation, officials said.
“We will intensively discuss all topics relevant to the development of our countries but also world peace, which is important,” Scholz told reporters after being received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the presidential palace.
The trip is Scholz’s first official visit to India, although it is his fourth meeting with Modi since taking office in 2021.
The German chancellor is expected to seek India’s support for Europe’s and the United States’ tough stance against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
After a video conference with other leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers on Friday, Scholz said before leaving Berlin for India that “internationally, we seek to make clear that Russia stands alone in the world with its aggression against Ukraine.”
“I will once again advocate there (New Delhi) for our position, our view on this conflict,” he told reporters.
Modi has refrained from any open criticism of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as Moscow is a major arms supplier and also supplies India with oil and other economic needs.
“There is huge potential for intensified cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, hydrogen, mobility, pharmaceuticals and digital economy” with India, Scholz said in an interview published by The Times of India newspaper on Saturday.
Philipp Ackermann, Germany’s ambassador to India, said he understands why India buys large quantities of oil from Russia.
“It’s something that the Indian government decides and because you get it at a very, very low price, you know I can’t blame the Indian government for buying it,” New Delhi The TV news channel quoted Ackermann as saying.
Scholz is also expected to push for progress towards free trade and investment protection agreements between India and the EU. Germany has been pushing to diversify its economic ties as European countries seek to disengage from China, a German official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
Last May, Germany and India signed a series of bilateral agreements focused on sustainable development under which India will receive $10.5 billion in aid by 2030 to increase the use of clean energy.
Some agreements are expected to be signed on Saturday. Details were not immediately available.
The two-day visit will also take Scholz to India’s information technology hub Bengaluru on Sunday.