German Chancellor to hold talks with PM Modi on bilateral issues during her India visit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night, starting on her two-day visit to the country. During her visit, she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of bilateral issues, with nearly 20 agreements expected to be signed between the two countries.

Merkel was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by MoS Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh. She will be meeting with the Indian leadership, besides a business delegation during her visit.

She will also be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday morning, after which she will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat later in the day.

"Enriching the strategic texture of our relationship, German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Delhi beginning her State visit to India during which she, along with PM @narendramodi will co-chair the 5th-IGC (Inter Governmental Consultations).This would be the 5th meeting between the leaders within a year," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Merkel will co-chair the 5th IGC with Prime Minister Modi following which the two leaders will make press statements and a raft of agreements will be signed between the two sides.

She will call on President Ram Nath Kovind in the evening and will also hold a meeting with the prime minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

The German leader plans to meet a business delegation and visit Continental Automotive Components India Pvt Ltd in Manesar, Gurgaon on Saturday.

Ahead of the visit, German envoy to India Walter J Lindner had said the PM Modi and Chancellor Merkel have a "very good relationship and they can talk about any issue. I do not want to anticipate what the two leaders will be talking about."

While responding to a question on whether the Kashmir issue will be discussed between them, Lindner said that the position of Germany on Kashmir is consistent with that of the European Union, which had asked India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue, seeking a peaceful and political solution, respectful of the interests of the Kashmiri population on both sides of the Line of Control.