Merkel says can develop India ties and keep up U.S. relationship

Record ID: 877918

  • Title: Merkel says can develop India ties and keep up U.S. relationship
  • Date: 30th May 2017
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI ARRIVING CAMERAS VARIOUS OF INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOBASHAR JAWED AKBAR AND GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL SIGNING AGREEMENT ON CYBER POLITICS, SHAKING HANDS PHOTOGRAPHERS VARIOUS OF INDIAN COMMERCE MINISTER NIRMALA SITHARAMAN AND GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER BRIGITTE ZYPRIES SIGNING AGREEMENT ON TRAINING MANAGERS AND WORKERS MODI AND MERKEL IN CONVERSATION ZYPRIES AND SITHARAMAN SHAKING HANDS WITH MERKEL AND MODI DELEGATES LISTENING MERKEL AND MODI WALKING TO PODIUMS PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI, SAYING ACCORDING TO INTERPRETER: "India is also concentrating on next generation infrastructure. We want to build our infrastructure based on global benchmarks. And for that kind of infrastructure-building, of course we need infrastructure - we want highways, railways... airways and waterways are required. And of course we also need I-ways that is information ways as per the current requirements. In all of these fields we would like to work together." VARIOUS OF MODI SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI, SAYING ACCORDING TO INTERPRETER: "As you know, India is a focussed and positive partner and will always be ready to put in the effort required to make this work. Once again, I would like to thank Chancellor Merkel for welcoming us so warmly, myself and my delegation. Thank you so much." JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES MERKEL SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "The transatlantic relationship is of enormous importance and what I said was simply indicating that given the current situation there are even more reasons for something which is always the case anyway, namely that we in Europe must take our fate into our own hands. For example, we spoke about the European-Indian trade agreement. Europe must be an actor that gets involved on the international stage, and I consider that to be very important." MERKEL SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "Working together with such a diverse country and being there when good developments take place, at the same time as investing and giving German companies a chance... that's of huge importance and in no way directed against any other relationships and certainly not against the trans-Atlantic ties, which have historically been very important for us and will remain so in future." PHOTOGRAPHER MODI AND MERKEL SHAKING HANDS, LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 13th June 2017 12:13
  • Keywords: German-Indian government consultation Narendra Modi Angela Merkel
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016J150SN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germany wants to develop ties with India and this should not be at the cost of its trans-Atlantic relationship, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday (May 30) after meeting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
    Merkel and Modi oversaw the signing of eight bilateral agreements on cyber politics, development cooperation and digital politics among others. Modi said India wanted to work with Germany on science and technology, transport, communication and infrastructure, and said India was ready to put in the effort to make the partnership work.
    Merkel talked about developing cooperation with India and added: "That's of huge importance and in no way directed against any other relationships and certainly not against the trans-Atlantic ties, which have historically been very important for us and will remain so in future."
    On Monday (May 29), Merkel underlined her doubts about the reliability of the United States as an ally but said she was a "convinced trans-Atlanticist", fine-tuning her message after surprising Washington with her frankness a day earlier.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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