Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Joint Statement on the Further Development of the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Germany

1. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chancellor Angela Merkel have reaffirmed today their commitment to the strategic partnership between India and Germany. The special partnership has already led to growing cooperation in global affairs and substantial expansion in the bilateral engagement in multiple fields. Within the framework of the Agenda for the Indo-German partnership in the 21st century adopted in 2000 and the Joint Statement issued on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Germany in April 2006, India and Germany will enhance the scope of their partnership with a view to strengthen it, based on shared principles, common perceptions and interests.

2. India and Germany share and promote universal values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms including religious, which are best realized in a pluralistic environment. They share a vision of peace, security and common opportunity in global affairs. They have shared interests in overcoming and finding solutions to key global challenges - amongst others poverty, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, the environmental and climate change, energy security, UN reform, international crime including cyber crime, illegal migration and trafficking in people, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, and international terrorism. Co-operation will be further enhanced on these issues, both bilaterally and in regional and international fora.

3. India and Germany share the vision of further strengthening their partnership through new initiatives in the spheres of trade and bilateral investment, energy, science and technology, education, culture, defence. They see considerable potential for growth in all these fields.

4. India and Germany are strong partners in the field of science, technology and research and are determined to further developing this central pillar of their strategic partnership. The establishment of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre, and the launch of the Science Express, which will carry an exhibition, designed and fabricated by the Max Planck Society, to numerous Indian cities in the course of the next year, are significant contributions reflecting this cooperation. Both sides are actively pursuing cooperation in the space sector including in the Chandrayaan project. Germany's support to India's participation in ITER and India's commitment to participate in the FAIR project was welcomed and appreciated.

5. Trade, investment and education belong to the core of the Indo-German partnership and collaboration. Both sides noted with satisfaction that bilateral trade has doubled within three years and agreed to work towards an annual trade volume of 20 billion Euro for 2012. The upward trend in two-way investments between India and Germany is a welcome development that needs further acceleration. Infrastructure and energy need to be concentrated on as sectors for mutually beneficial investments. They should take into account the complementary nature of the skills, resources and opportunities available in the two economies.

6. Transport infrastructure in India and transport links between India and Germany are vital components of our economic and trade relations. Railways and power generation are two areas wherein German investment in India would be to mutual advantage and would generate spin-off benefits to Indian and German industry. The two sides agreed to look for innovative ways and means to achieve this objective. India appreciates Germany's long-standing engagement in the area of vocational training. Both sides agreed to explore new avenues for further cooperation in this field including through public-private partnership.

7. The two sides underlined the importance of business to business links to further economic cooperation. They welcomed the meeting of a CEOs Round Table of Indian and German business leaders in Mumbai. In the light of the rapidly growing trade and economic relations and the rapidly evolving pattern of international competitive advantage, it was agreed to facilitate movement of persons and professionals between the two countries in accordance with national legislation. Both Governments acknowledge the considerable potential for cooperation in the services sector. In this context, there was agreement on the need for the early conclusion of a Social Security Agreement, both for individuals and companies in the two countries. The two sides shared the assessment that further enhancement of bilateral air traffic relations would underpin the growing trade relationship between both countries.

8. Both sides reaffirm the development cooperation between Germany and India as an example of excellent bilateral work, innovation and alignment of development priorities. The mutually agreed priority areas focus on energy, environment and sustainable economic development. Indo-German cooperation promotes social security systems, development, micro financing and rural cooperative banking. The Rural Cooperative Credit Project / Linkage Banking Project, a programme of Indo-German development cooperation, was noted as an example. A new financial commitment by Germany of 150 million Euro likely to be concluded in November 2007 to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects was appreciated. These projects reinforce the common goal of both sides to produce clean energy and protect the global climate.

9. India and Germany recognise the urgent need to find effective and practical solutions to address concerns regarding climate change and its implications for human kind. These would include mitigation and adaptation strategies in a manner that supports further economic and social development in particular of developing countries. Long-term convergence of per capita emission rates is one of the important principles that should underpin negotiations in the context of the United Nations. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. India and Germany call on all parties to actively and constructively participate in the negotiations on a comprehensive post-2012 agreement for which the UNFCCC Conference in Indonesia in December 2007 would be significant.

10. The activities and follow up of the Indo-German Energy Forum were noted with appreciation. The MoU between the Energy Agencies of both countries signed during the visit of the Indian Minister of Power in Germany in 2006, the Indo-German Symposium on Energy Efficiency as well as the Indo-German Environment Forum both to be held in New Delhi in 2008 will generate additional momentum for the bilateral political dialogue on energy. It will equally foster the identification of cooperation projects in this field. The early conclusion of an MoU on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects will further strengthen this process. India and Germany noted with satisfaction the growing bilateral CDM cooperation with 21 approved projects at present.

11. They emphasized the need for ensuring the supply of safe, sustainable and non-polluting sources of energy to meet the rising global demand for energy, particularly in developing countries.

12. There was agreement that the enlarged bilateral defence cooperation on the basis of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, including the bilateral dialogue on export control, marked the development of a new phase to enhance the strategic partnership. It is envisaged to include exchange of information and cooperation in the fields of defence technological research, armament procurement projects including project related development and technology as well as general defence technology.

13. India and Germany strongly support an early, fair and substantive outcome of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. They bear common responsibility for a successful conclusion of the Doha Agenda with focus on the development dimension and stress the necessity to overcome the existing differences in the Doha Round for the benefit of all WTO member states. Close cooperation between India and Germany will make a significant contribution to achieve a balanced and comprehensive agreement.

14. India and Germany noted with satisfaction the growing partnership between India and the EU. They welcomed that negotiations have begun between India and the EU to arrive at a broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement in accordance with the decision reached at the India-EU Summit in Helsinki in 2006. They look forward to the forthcoming India-EU Summit which will further the India-EU relationship.

15. India and Germany recognise that a strengthened multilateral system, including a reformed UN Security Council that would reflect the realities of the 21st century, enhances global cooperation and security. Both sides will continue their close cooperation bilaterally and in the framework of the G4 for the strengthening of the multilateral system and towards early realisation of reform of the United Nations, including the expansion of the UN Security Council, in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. India and Germany reaffirmed their firm support for each others' candidature for permanent membership on an expanded UNSC.

16. Terrorism is a global threat requiring a global response. Both sides underline the importance of joint international efforts in countering terrorism which is not justified under any circumstances. They agree to intensify mutual exchange of views, experiences and practical cooperation in the fight against terrorism, both through bilateral channels and in multilateral forums. They shall strengthen cooperation through the Indo-German Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and in the EU framework, as well as in pursuing as soon as possible agreement in the UN on the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism. They will share experiences and increase co-operation, including joint operational work between police and law enforcement agencies. The conclusion of a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters would further strengthen the bilateral efforts.

17. Both sides share the view that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and its linkages with terrorism pose a great threat to international peace and security. India and Germany share the vision of a world free of weapons of mass destruction, a goal towards which they will work together.

18. India and Germany reaffirm their commitment to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefit of both their peoples and the international community based on universal values of democracy and pluralism. A stronger partnership between India and Germany, two major democracies in Asia and Europe, acting in concert in international institutions, enhances global cooperation and security. Both sides stressed the commitment to work towards promoting international peace, stability and security, development and the eradication of poverty.