PM Modi met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gujarat for delegation-level talks, reviewing cooperation in trade, technology, defence and strategic ties during Merz’s first official India visit.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar on Monday. | ANI video grab
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held delegation-level talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gandhinagar, marking the German leader’s first official visit to India since taking office.
The meeting comes in a landmark year for bilateral ties. India and Germany are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations. They also recently completed 25 years of their strategic partnership.
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Several memoranda of understanding were signed during the visit in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz, adding momentum to cooperation across multiple sectors.
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While addressing a joint press conference after the talks, PM Modi said the partnership was rooted not just in policy, but in shared values and long-standing connections.
“Last year, we completed 25 years of our strategic partnership, and this year, we are also celebrating 75 years of our diplomatic relations. These milestones are not merely achievements of time. They are symbols of our shared ambitions, mutual trust, and ever-strengthening cooperation. Close cooperation between economies like those of India and Germany is crucial for all of humanity. Growing trade and investment ties have given new energy to our strategic partnership,” he said.
The PM also pointed to deep cultural and intellectual links between the two countries, saying today’s cooperation builds on a long shared past.
“India and Germany share historical and deep people-to-people ties. Rabindranath Tagore’s works gave a new perspective to the intellectual world of Germany. Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy inspired all of Europe, including Germany, and Madam Cama gave global recognition to our aspirations for independence by unfurling the flag of India’s freedom for the first time in Germany. Today, we are transforming this historical connection into a modern partnership…”
He described Chancellor Merz’s visit as a strong signal of Germany’s commitment to India.
“As a Chancellor, this is Friedrich Merz’s first visit to India, and indeed to Asia. This is strong evidence of the deep importance he attaches to relations with India. India is fully committed to further strengthening its friendship and partnership with Germany. We extend a heartfelt welcome to Chancellor Merz in India. Chancellor Merz’s visit is taking place at a special time…”
The talks were held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. According to news agency ANI, both sides reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, technology, education, skilling, and mobility, along with defence, security, science, innovation, research, and sustainable development.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were part of the Indian delegation.
PM Modi said economic ties had reached a new high and were now backed by concrete outcomes.
“Our bilateral trade has reached its highest level ever, surpassing the 50 billion dollar mark. More than 2,000 German companies have a long-standing presence in India. This reflects their unwavering confidence in India and the immense opportunities available here.”
He added that cooperation in technology and clean energy was expanding rapidly.
“We are jointly pursuing new projects in areas such as climate, energy, urban development, and urban mobility. The new mega-project by companies from both countries in green hydrogen will prove to be a game-changer for future energy.”
The PM also highlighted growing defence and security cooperation. “The growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Chancellor Merz for simplifying the priorities related to defence trade. We will also work on a roadmap to enhance cooperation between defence industries, which will open up new opportunities for co-development and co-production…”
Germany’s Chancellor echoed the sentiment during the joint press interaction. “We want to elevate the relations between India and Germany to an even higher level… You invited me to visit your home state of Gujarat. I express my heartfelt gratitude for this special gesture. It is a sign of very deep ties between our two countries, but it is also a testament of friendship towards me,” Merz said.
PM Narendra Modi also announced plans to deepen cooperation in renewable energy. “Technology cooperation between India and Germany has strengthened year after year, and its impact is clearly visible on the ground today. India and Germany share common priorities in the field of renewable energy. To further enhance this cooperation, we have decided to establish the India-Germany Centre of Excellence. This will serve as a shared platform for knowledge, technology, and innovation…”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Both leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, and the German Chancellor signed the visitors’ book.
Later, they jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront and flew a kite featuring Lord Hanuman.
The visit also has a wider context. It takes place ahead of the India–EU Summit scheduled for January 27, placing India–Germany relations within the broader European engagement framework.
Chancellor Merz is on a two-day official visit from January 12 to January 13. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) before returning to Germany.
The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where Prime Minister Modi had extended the invitation for this visit.
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