Would like to strengthen coalition on multi-lateralism: Merkel

Addressing the 63rd annual general meeting of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, German Chancellor Angela Merkel batted for multi-lateral world order, reiterating that Germany wants India as its partner.

New Delhi:German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday made it clear that her government has every intention to give boost to the multi-lateral trade system and wants India as its partner.

Merkel made these claims while addressing a gathering of business delegates from both India and Germany at the 63rd annual meeting of Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.

Both India and Germany have been talking about the multi-lateral world order for a long time, and have been advocating about the reforms at the United Nations. The two nations have also been seeking permanent membership at the Security Council.

In the past, the nations have also raised issues of reforms at the World Trade Organisation suitable to the new world order where multiple stakeholders have emerged. Chancellor Merkel made these remarks in the backdrop of her meeting with PM Modi twice on Friday. Both leaders had touched upon scores of issues of bilateral and global importance.

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Reiterating her government's willingness to be India's partner in the field of agriculture, artificial intelligence, health, water and waste management, Merkel said that she had an open discussion with PM Modi about the barriers which German businessmen face in India.

She said that such businessmen can directly approach the German embassy in India and the ambassador will make sure that their issues will be taken up with the Prime Minister's office.

She also made it a point that her government would like to be India's partner in urban mobility. During her chat with PM Modi, she brought up the deteriorating air quality in the national capital and called for the replacement of all diesel buses with electric buses.

Merkel pledged to spend over one billion euros on green urban mobility in the next five years conceived under the new India-German partnership.

However, she evaded herself from making any comments on Kashmir, largely focussing on trade relations during her 15-minute speech.

Merkel had stirred a massive row on Friday after she said the situation in Kashmir is not sustainable.

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