- 7 weeks ago
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held a joint press briefing, addressing key issues like climate, defence, and counter-terrorism. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to ease of doing business, deeper scientific and space collaboration, and stronger bilateral trade ties, which touched nearly €50 billion last year.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Colleagues, friends from the media, we have just completed a very productive discussion on India-Germany cooperation, on our relationship with the European Union, and we have exchanged views on regional, global, and multilateral issues.
00:21Now, before I come to those subjects, let me again first publicly welcome my friend, Foreign Minister Dr. Johan Badeful, who is here for the first time in his current capacity.
00:36I had the honor of being his guest this May, and between May and now, we have actually been regularly in touch in this intervening period.
00:47Now, I first got to know him when we met at the Munich Security Conference, which was well before he became Foreign Minister.
00:58And I must say, even then, I was impressed by his commitment to advancing the India-Germany strategic partnership.
01:09I'm very confident that that enthusiasm will now be applied by him fully in his new role.
01:15During the day today, we've had detailed discussions on various aspects of our ties.
01:24This includes our political cooperation, security and defense, economic relations, research, and future technologies, climate and energy, as well as education, skilling, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges.
01:39So, let me share with you some key points, which came out of today's discussion.
01:46One, we greatly value the understanding that Germany has shown with regard to India's fight against terrorism.
01:55Minister Wadiful has himself been explicit about our right to defend our people against terrorist attacks.
02:02A parliamentary delegation that visited Germany in June after Operation Sindhu was also warmly received.
02:12Two, there's been an uptick in our defense and security cooperation.
02:18Germany participated in the Tarang Shakti air exercises last year, and its ships made port calls to Goa.
02:24Today, we agreed that such participation should be continued, indeed, even expanded.
02:30In the past, we have had significant export control difficulties in the defense and security domain.
02:38I would like to express my appreciation today for the smoothening of these processes and more expeditious clearances.
02:47We also spoke about greater industry collaboration between our two countries in this context.
02:52Three, our two-way trade last year was almost 50 billion euros.
03:00Minister Wadiful is on record.
03:02I saw one of his interviews where he said that he was very confident we will be doubling our trade.
03:09Let me assure him that India fully reciprocates that sentiment.
03:13It looks forward to working with the German government.
03:16And last year, I recall, we had a very successful conference in Delhi of APK, the German Industry Association.
03:28And I want to reiterate that we remain fully committed to continuously improving the ease of doing business in this country.
03:36And I assured the minister today that any concerns that German companies may have in India, coming to India, establishing themselves, working here, we would be prepared to give it special attention.
03:53For, in the semiconductor manufacturing area, that has actually emerged as a particularly promising domain.
04:04We welcome German investments and GCCs.
04:08Indian talent can make a significant contribution to Germany's own expanding capabilities here.
04:14And I must say that the model of talent preparation and flow that Germany has evolved has been particularly effective.
04:23I would really commend our German colleagues for that.
04:27And we hope to see that scale up further.
04:30Five, we have just marked 50 years of our scientific collaboration.
04:34Intensifying that and linking it to industry is the task that we have set for ourselves.
04:42Our cyber and digital dialogues are also important.
04:46Minister Wadhaful visited the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and also ISRO.
04:53And I'm very glad he did because I think space cooperation has a lot of potential.
04:59And we again today agreed that it should be more aggressively explored.
05:03Six, on climate and energy, we have been working for the last few years on what's called the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership.
05:14Now, some of you would be aware that projects under this have included the Nagpur Metro Rail,
05:21green energy corridors in five states, and the integrated water transport project in Kochi.
05:28Our discussions today also covered green hydrogen, green energy financing, and biofuels.
05:36Seven, we have seen good progress in education and mobility.
05:41I believe that the largest number of foreign students in Germany are now from India.
05:46On my last two visits to that country,
05:48I heard praise for our community's contribution from across the political spectrum in Germany.
05:56The skilled labor strategy released by the German government offers a very good framework for mutual benefit.
06:04We have also agreed on gratis visas for short-term school and college visits to further promote student exchanges.
06:10And eight, on consular issues, I should mention that I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who's been in foster care of German authorities for some time.
06:23I underlined to the minister that it is essential that her cultural rights are ensured and she grows up in Indian surroundings.
06:31So, this matter needs to be resolved without further delay, and I think we've had some discussions today on that subject.
06:40Needless to say, we also did a review of the global situation, of regional issues, of multilateral.
06:48It included the Ukraine conflict, West Asia, Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
06:54These were very, very useful, and I must say, I really appreciated Minister Vareful's insights on many of these subjects.
07:03So, let me conclude by stressing today that we see the world facing the twin challenges of economic volatility and political uncertainty.
07:15We believe that a multipolar world with strategic autonomy can best respond through more intensive consultations and cooperation among key member states.
07:28It is in that spirit that I welcomed Minister Vareful and his delegation today, and I must again thank him for a very open, constructive, and positive approach to intensifying our strategic partnership.
07:43Thank you, sir.
07:47May I now invite His Excellency, Dr. Johan Vareful, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, to give his remarks to the media.
07:58Herzlichen Dank, meine sehr verehrten Damen und Herren, lieber Herr Kollege, lieber Chai.
08:04Vielen herzlichen Dank für das herzliche Bekommen hier.
08:06Thank you very much for this very cordial welcome with which you have greeted me.
08:10It was a pleasure for me to come here.
08:12We have actually met in a very short period of time for the third time, and that is a sign of the close friendship which we have been able to set up.
08:20Reliability, friendship, predictability are in times like these, in times of uncertainty, in times where we witness wars and conflicts of invaluable value in these times.
08:33And I personally acknowledge and consider it a strong signal of friendship and cooperation in both our countries, that we can engage in this spirit of trust and friendship, and that we can look back on a 25-year period of strategic cooperation between both our countries, and that we have been able to expand it at the personal level.
08:56I share your analysis completely, 100% that this partnership, you know, when you want to think about or consider strategic autonomy, about sovereignty in the area of economy, but also in the field of security policy, that this is of decisive importance.
09:20Of course, we have allies, we have friends, and for Germany, India is one of them.
09:27I had the pleasure today of, you know, playing hockey for a few minutes with a team of pupils.
09:35I wasn't very successful, though I hasten to end, but it is a team sport, you know, and I would like to make that point.
09:42And I believe that India and Germany are playing in the same team.
09:44And that is something that I welcome and think is good in these uncertain and turbulent times, and this is reflected in the fact that we look back on 50 years of science cooperation, and 60 years since we signed the bilateral cultural agreement, and it has reflected in so many other areas.
10:04We have a bi-annual intergovernmental conference, and we strengthen that team spirit, and I hope that we will also have the federal council visiting here soon, because we want to tackle the challenges both our countries are confronted with together, and to strengthen our cooperation.
10:26As a rising economic powerhouse, and the most populous country, and biggest democracy in the world, India, has a special importance in a world region that is of strategic importance.
10:41Our economies in particular have a lot to gain, I believe, if we are to further expand our cooperation.
10:47I was in Bangalore yesterday, and I saw for myself what an innovative powerhouse and technology centre India has become.
10:54In the area of AI and aerospace, but in other areas too, India wants to and will be at the forefront among the frontrunners in a whole host of areas.
11:06Today we talked about the potential for further enhancing our cooperation, be it in the air strengthening cooperation in the field of aerospace and space, be it in the area of AI, where we both believe the need to set up norms, rules, and values.
11:18With the EU AI act, the EU has presented an important building block in that regard, that India is going to host the next AI summit, is a demonstration of India's ambition and claim to be in the vanguard, among the frontrunners, in the area of new technology too.
11:43Now, with regard to bilateral trade, India and Germany are already playing in the Premier League.
11:49Germany, with a little under 31 billion euros of trade, has India as its most important trading partner.
11:57As I said to my colleague, we aim to double that, and I am pleased to see that India takes a similarly positive and optimistic view of the chances for that.
12:05And this is why Germany strongly supports the EU-India free trade agreement, and we hope that this can be speedily negotiated so that it can be concluded before the end of this year, in autumn this year, and hopefully lead to a ratification process.
12:26If others set up impediments to trade, we should respond by us lowering these impediments and hurdles.
12:38We believe that this fosters understanding amongst peoples and their prosperity.
12:43Today already, we have more than 2,000 German companies that are active on the Indian subcontinent, and India is gaining increasing weight whenever we talk about diversifying supply chains,
12:53whether it be chemical products, pharmaceuticals, tech ties, electronics, or IT services.
12:57But the fact that I have with me a large business delegation is a demonstration of Germany's great interest in India's market.
13:07Now, we also have to make sure that market access restrictions are being reduced in order to tap that enormous potential of enhanced economic relations.
13:16We must, however, we must, however, not lose sight of climate change as we strive to increase growth.
13:25Germany's contribution to India's Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative equals to 20 million euros, the aim being to make Pacific Island states resilient to climate India's loss and damage.
13:38We both also agree that we want to create more opportunities for Indian skilled labor and students who aim to come to Germany.
13:45We have almost 60,000 Indian students in Germany, which makes them already today the largest group of international students in Germany.
13:55Many of them choose to stay because we need, urgently need, highly skilled and highly qualified labor.
14:04With our strategy on highly skilled labor in India, we already support the area of getting these talents to come to Germany.
14:11It's already now a genuine success story.
14:16Indian skilled workers in Germany are successful in their jobs, earn more than above average, earn above average income and show above average integration.
14:28They are an asset for the German labor market.
14:31Today, the visa center in Bangalore has been issuing already 36,000 visas last year.
14:38It is for long-term stays.
14:40And the number is increasing.
14:42In 2024, almost a third of all student visas globally were issued in India.
14:47So, as far as that is concerned, we are playing in the Champions League, in the visa era.
14:54But it is equally true that we want to enhance our performance through digitizing the processes and making them more efficient.
15:02In order to expand the success story, though, we have also to improve and enhance the language training on offer.
15:08We are working with the Goethe Institute in expanding the infrastructure for German language, tuition, and language exams.
15:16But before, we want to promote German as a foreign language at the schools in India.
15:22Right now, we have 58 partner schools in India, and we aim to increase their number to 1,000.
15:27Ladies and gentlemen, but apart from touching on bilateral relations, we also spoke about international challenges.
15:36India and Germany are united by the objective to preserve the rules-based international order.
15:42And, of course, that includes the freedom of maritime trade youth groups in the Indo-Pacific.
15:50China's increasingly aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific is called for concern for both our countries.
15:55More generally, we aim to further expand our cooperation in the areas of defense, security, and armor management.
16:02We talked about this today.
16:03Be that through common exercises of our forces or speeding up the granting of export licenses process for the Indo-Pacific engagement.
16:14Last year, German frigate made a port call in India.
16:18Germany stands ready to enhance the cooperation.
16:20We also talked about the fact that security in the Indo-Pacific is closely linked to security in Europe.
16:28For us, Russia's war for aggression, for us in Germany and Europe, Russia's war for aggression is right now and remains right now the biggest challenge to our security policy.
16:37The fact that Prime Minister Modi, when he met with President Putin a couple of days ago, also pointed to the need of a speedy peace agreement in Ukraine, has been important to us.
16:52We Europeans are doing our best, working with our American and Ukrainian friends to ensure that this war ends soon and that the Indo-Pacific finds peace as a sovereign state.
17:01I know that we don't always see 100% eye to eye with our Indian friends and this is why I spoke out in favor today that India uses its relations with Russia to point to the need to make peace return to Europe.
17:20And I am grateful for the open discussion and peace is the basis for security, freedom and security.
17:27Security, anyway, generally speaking, is and will remain a challenge for the future.
17:34And we are pleased that in the vicinity of India too, a sea fire has come to apply.
17:41I assured you, dear colleague, that when it comes to India defending itself against terrorism, Germany continues to be firmly at your side.
17:51I look forward to our next exchange of views, probably on the fringes of the General Assembly of the United Nations, as early as in three weeks in New York.
18:01So, see you again soon. Thank you.
18:04Thank you, sir. We now open the floor for some questions.
18:09We have now open the floor for some questions.
18:11Can you ask your question, please do answer yourself at your office.
18:14Would you ask yourself at your office?
18:16So, we have a question there, please.
18:17Reza from the Hindustan Times. For the external affairs minister, I was just wondering the geopolitical changes that we are witnessing.
18:24Does that for a closer strategic and economic partnership with Europe and its constituents such as Germany?
18:33And, you know, there are plans for India to work with Germany to bolster its submarine fleet.
18:39Did that come up in your conversation?
18:41If I may, to the German foreign minister, you are here at a time when India and China are rebuilding their relations.
18:48And what does Germany think of that process?
18:51And given Germany's interest in the Indo-Pacific, do you view China more as a competitor or a rival?
18:58Well, I think definitely there's no question that the changes we see in the world today do influence our policies and do influence the manner in which we approach other countries.
19:20So, we are seeing, you know, very sweeping changes on the global strategic landscape.
19:29We're also seeing a lot of volatility on the global economic landscape.
19:34And I think together, they make a very powerful case for India and the European Union and India and Germany to work much more closely with each other.
19:47Because we do believe that, you know, this is a relationship where there are, you know, considerable possibilities for fairly rapid growth.
19:59Obviously, it won't happen by itself.
20:02Today, our conversation was mostly devoted to the bilateral part.
20:08You mentioned the, you referred to the submarines.
20:11Obviously, we, you know, that was not something we would discuss in detail.
20:14We are the foreign ministers.
20:16That's something which is between the defense ministries.
20:19But we, for example, discussed, you know, the faster clearances and growing defense trade between India and Germany, which has really gone up quite significantly.
20:33We discussed how to increase business.
20:37And there, it's not just between India and Germany.
20:40You know, the minister was good enough to assure me that Germany would put its full weight behind the FTA negotiations with the European Union as well.
20:50So, bottom line answer is yes.
20:53There are big changes underway in the world.
20:55Those changes make a very compelling case for a deeper, stronger, you know, wider India-Germany relationship.
21:05I said already earlier today that I have a positive view of the development of Indo-Chinese relations, nor was it up to me, you know, I consider myself the person to pass judgment on this.
21:26And this is a matter that pertains to the respective countries, and they are, of course, free to shape their relations as they desire.
21:33But we always welcome when two countries try to improve the understanding between themselves.
21:43We agree with India and many other countries that we need to defend the international rules-based order, and that we also have to defend it against China.
21:59At least that is our clear analysis.
22:02Because you used those words, and you did so correctly, Germany, like the European Union, has a clear position regarding China.
22:16For us, China is a partner in some areas.
22:21Think of climate protection.
22:23It is clear and obvious that we will be able to address these issues and problems without China.
22:30We also view China as a competitor.
22:33We compete against China in a number of areas, sectors.
22:37Our business does.
22:38Our economy does.
22:39It is, generally speaking, not a problem.
22:41But we place value on having a fair competition and equal rules.
22:45But we also see China as a systemic rival.
22:48We do not want that rivalry.
22:51We increasingly note that the number of areas is increasing where China has chosen this approach.
22:58They want to be upset about that.
23:00Therefore, we have to respond in some of these areas.
23:03Amongst them are areas where we have to defend our markets against China.
23:09We are determined to continue to do so.
23:12At the same time, we always express our readiness to return to the partnership spirit.
23:17Do you have a question there?
23:18Sandra?
23:19A question.
23:20Sandra?
23:22A question to Mr. Jaishankar, please.
23:23India is balancing multiple relations.
23:24China, Russia, the United States of America.
23:25So how exactly does Germany fit into this balancing of strategic partnerships?
23:30And a question to Mr. Wadefuhl.
23:31You said on the trip to India, that India is a very important partner for Germany, but also
23:37a not always easier partner.
23:39What exactly would you wish to be different or better in some way or other?
24:04I thought we were quite easy, but he agreed.
24:14But look, the fact is today, you know, we have, I'm now speaking from an Indian perspective,
24:25we have important strategic relationships with a number of countries.
24:30And it's in the nature of global politics or global strategy today that each one of these
24:42relationships would be maintained and you would optimize them.
24:46So to me, you know, both Germany in itself and Germany as the biggest country of the European
24:55Union are obviously central to the calculations and to the relationships that we have in the
25:02world.
25:03So I mean, if you look at it by virtually any metric, I mean, whether it is economic, whether
25:10it is political, you know, we were among the other things we didn't get to mention here,
25:16except Johan did at the end of his remarks, we are two countries who are also as part of
25:22the G4 trying to change the, you know, trying to bring about a reform of the Security Council
25:28and of the UN itself.
25:30So, you know, for us, this is an enormously important relationship.
25:34This relationship is growing in substance.
25:37And I can see at this time of uncertainties that actually it has a greater value.
25:42It's a very steady relationship.
25:44It is a relationship where largely what we promise to each other and policies that we have
25:51remain constant and remain predictable.
25:54So, you know, predictability today has a huge premium in global politics.
26:00So, so I, I do think that, you know, this relationship is actually only growing in its weight and its value
26:09and, and part of the reason why we have met so regularly, even in the last few months and
26:15spoken to each other is because of that.
26:17I, you've taken the words out of my mouth.
26:27So, basically I'm repeating them in German now, saying what you said.
26:31Um, you could say, you could say, you could, as I've tried to impress earlier,
26:40India equals Asia for us and Germany and the European Union in a way equivalent for India.
26:49It is of immense importance, as has become obvious today during our talks, that India plays a very important part.
26:58And though we both have our own political positions and political priorities.
27:03But when it comes to democratic principles and regulatory steps, both our countries and both our markets
27:11tend to be very diligent, um, and adhering to certain details.
27:17Sometimes we could make it easier for the other side to engage in the respective market.
27:22And we've underlined that in our discussions today.
27:25And I think we both have our homework to do in that regard.
27:29When you look at the history of India, it is more than obvious that at the time when I was young and went to school
27:40and later studied at university, I got to know India as a non-aligned country.
27:45Of course, that has left its mark on this country and distinguishes this country from Germany,
27:53which has always been a part of nature, part of the Western world.
27:57And during the Cold War, we were in confrontation with the then Soviet Union.
28:02And unfortunately, and I deplore that fact because we thought we'd overcome that.
28:07But we are back in a situation.
28:09We've not been able to overcome this.
28:10Back in a situation where we're confronting Russia,
28:13have a confrontation between Russia and the European and Europe,
28:17because international law is being violated there.
28:20We find us again in this situation and India finds itself in another, a different situation.
28:26So that is a challenge to talk about these matters.
28:29Rather, not to talk about these matters, but to always reach a perfect agreement on all of these issues.
28:38But that's obvious.
28:39That's what is to expect it.
28:40And I don't think it's something bad because in so many other areas, we totally agree.
28:49And we have this reliability and predictability of the respective partner country,
28:54which plays such an enormous part and of which we knew that this is a clear political stance of India to contribute to bringing about a process for peace in Ukraine as quickly as possible.
29:11Again, here we see eye to eye.
29:12And I tried to convey that when I traveled here.
29:21But I totally agree with my colleague that this talk has not only been an easygoing talk,
29:29it has been also very fruitful and took place in a spirit of friendship.
29:34And I returned to Germany and much encouraged as a consequence.
29:42So I have two questions, both to foreign minister of Germany and foreign minister of India.
29:53So, Mr.
29:55My question to you is that on Russia, Ukraine conflict, do you support the idea of using tariffs as a tool to on third countries?
30:03To persuade or to pressure Russia and Ukraine to bring a ceasefire?
30:08And are you only Germany and Europe only working with Mr.
30:13Donald Trump led a ceasefire initiative or you have come with some new ideas or to work with countries like India,
30:19with whom President Donald, President Putin and President Zelensky both are keeping active contacts?
30:24And to Mr. Minister, Dr. Jayshankar, you know that I am sure you must have discussed the unreasonable, unjustified, unfair tariffs with the German foreign minister.
30:35But what assurance did you get from Germany and especially from the EU side to accommodate the Indian products and accommodate the Indian export?
30:45And as he rightly pointed that out, that if someone is putting unreasonable tariffs and barriers, we should lower it down.
30:50So what are the concrete assurances did you did you get?
30:53We will take one more question.
30:54So please go ahead.
30:55We will take one more question.
30:56So please go ahead.
30:58Andreas Künast from CDF.
30:59Andreas Künast, second German television.
31:00Both ministers.
31:01Minister Vardefull said that he had asked you to make use of your good services and offices to impress upon Russia that we need to see peace come about.
31:06What was your response?
31:07Will you play your part even more than you?
31:08Will you engage even more?
31:13Herr Vardefull, I am happy to begin.
31:29I'm happy to begin.
31:43In this conflict, we have right from the outside been pursuing a policy that has the objective
31:54of Russia and Ukraine following the path of negotiations.
32:01However, what we have noticed of late is that despite the enormous efforts that the American
32:06President has invested, Russia has not been willing to sit down at the negotiating table,
32:12whereas the Ukrainian President, President Zelenskyy, has expressed his immediate readiness
32:18to negotiate and sit down at the negotiation table.
32:21In a way, it has taken a first step, and we're talking country that has been attacked without
32:27it having done anything to trigger that attack.
32:32The only demand is that weapons fall silent, no more than that, and I think that that is
32:37a reasonable precondition for people to engage in serious and genuine peace negotiations.
32:41As far as that is concerned, that is a clear German approach and European approach that
32:46we want to do whatever we can to make President Putin sit down at the negotiating table.
32:52As far as Europe is concerned, this includes sanctions being imposed on Russia.
32:57We have not used terrorists, but it was sanctions that we have imposed on Russia so as to ensure
33:07that Russia, which has to fund its war, will be less able to do so.
33:12As we took certain steps and measures, there have been several packages of sanctions that
33:17we have imposed amongst them, the so-called oil price gap, the purpose being that we want
33:25to withdraw the financial basis that Russia has and that enables it to wage this war.
33:31But at the same time, it has been of great importance to us to ensure that there are no bottled
33:37pet-necks when it comes to countries supplying itself with the energy they need and that there
33:43are no unreasonable increases in prices.
33:47But it is, of course, the purpose has not been that Russia uses detours but manages to get
33:56its oil to us and we therefore took appropriate measures to prevent that.
34:02But the objective of our policies has been to bring about negotiations.
34:08So we have been targeted in our approach, targeting our steps to make it more difficult for Russia
34:16to fund its warfare and the quicker we can get the parties to sit down at the negotiation table,
34:25the quicker, the sooner the moment will come for us to lift these measures or adapt them.
34:37I think, you know, what we discussed between India and Europe and India and Germany on economic
34:44issues, trade issues.
34:46Look, our conversations and our negotiations predate anything which has happened this year.
34:52It's something which has been going on for multiple years.
34:56And it's in our mutual interest that we lower tariffs and we find other ways of expanding our
35:02business and economic cooperation.
35:05Obviously, you know, in today's climate, those efforts acquire a greater urgency.
35:11I mean, that's quite apparent.
35:15But it is an ongoing conversation and I share the Minister's desire and in a way I would even
35:24say optimism that we would like now the FTA negotiations.
35:29We hope that another round takes place fairly soon.
35:32We would like this to move to a decisive conclusion in the coming days.
35:37And we believe that this would be in our mutual interest.
35:41It will help stabilize the global economy.
35:44It will be a big factor there.
35:47It will be a kind of one of the elements of a ballast which today the world economy really needs.
35:59And that's what we believe in it will be.
36:01It will help us to move down to this way.
36:03Let's take a look at the top of this video.
36:05To move down to this leader, you will leave it somewhere.
36:08We will leave it somewhere.
36:09Again, yes, you will have to move up to this.
36:11Because I see the top that is here, you will be able to move down to this area.
36:13And that's the key to make sure that this is how you can use it.
36:15The power of the field, it is to be able to move down to this side.
36:18It will be able to move down to this side to the side of the world.
36:21And that's the way you can use it.
36:23So, I can not like to move down and see it.
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