German foreign minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning on a two-day official visit to India.
According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, Wadephul will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) before leaving for Delhi later in the day.
On Wednesday, he will meet Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
"India is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific. Our relations are close - politically, economically, culturally,” Wadephul wrote on X ahead of his visit.
“The expansion of our strategic partnership has much potential: from security cooperation to innovation & technology to recruiting skilled workers”.
Wadephul acknowledged that India plays a decisive role in shaping the world order. In view of massive geopolitical challenges, the rules-based international order must be preserved, he said.
"India's voice, that of the world's most populous country and largest democracy, is also heard beyond the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. That is why I am travelling today for talks to Bangalore and New Delhi," said Wadephul.
The visit comes weeks after German Member of Parliament Jurgen Hardt met Jaishankar in New Delhi and discussed bilateral ties and global development.
India and Germany are celebrating the the milestone of completion of 25 years of Strategic Partnership which came into force in 2000. The partnership was further strengthened by the launch of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) at the level of Heads of Government in 2011.
In May, Jaishankar had visited Germany and met Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The EAM had also extensive discussions with Wadephul.
During the meeting, the two sides also reaffirmed their shared commitment to further expand collaboration in key strategic areas including defence, digital technologies, AI, green and sustainable development and talent mobility.
“They also exchanged perspectives on regional and global developments, reaffirming their countries’ shared position on combating terrorism without exception, upholding international law, and promoting a multipolar, rules-based international order,” the MEA had said.
