BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left for India on Sunday for a visit to bolster economic and security ties between the top EU economy and the Asian population giant. Both Berlin and New Delhi face a turbulent world order and a set of economic and geopolitical challenges from the world's two largest economies, the United States and China.
Merz's visit from Monday — his first to an Asian country since he took office last May — comes two weeks ahead of a planned EU-India summit and as India and the bloc are working on a free trade agreement. "This agreement is envisioned not just as a trade deal, but as a comprehensive partnership that addresses modern economic realities," India's commerce ministry said.
During Merz's two-day visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host him in Ahmedabad, in the premier's western home state of Gujarat, before Merz travels to the southern technology hub of Bengaluru. The two leaders will attend a traditional kite festival and visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the spiritual retreat where Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence struggle, lived for many years. — AFP
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