'Big changes' underway in the world ... hence "need for a deeper, stronger and wider India-Germany relationship", says Jaishankar ::: Both countries aim to double bilateral trade, take India-EU FTA to decisive goal

** Despite - enhanced bonds between India, Russia and China .... there is an 

added Importance of Indo-German ties 

and also India-European Union FTA

India, Germany aim to double bilateral trade, take India-EU FTA to decisive conclusion - says Dr Jaishankar  

"Let me assure him that India fully reciprocates that sentiment. 

We look forward to working with the German government towards this. I want to reiterate that we remain fully committed to continuously improving the ease of doing business in this country. 

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," External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said in a joint press conference with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul.  

Dr Jaishankar also said that the "changes we see in the world today do influence our policies and do influence the manner in which we approach other countries". 

There are big changes underway in the world which "make a very compelling case for a deeper, stronger, wider India-Germany relationship".

"We're also seeing a lot of volatility on the global economic landscape, and I think together, they make a very powerful case for India and the European Union (EU) and India and Germany to work much more closely with each other. This is a relationship where there are considerable possibilities for fairly rapid growth," he said.

The visiting German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: "... We 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... 

Germany, like the European Union, has a clear position regarding China. 

For us (Germany); China is a partner in some areas, think of climate protection. It is clear and obvious that we won't be able to address these issues and problems without China. 

We also view China as a competitor. 

"We compete against China in a number of areas, our business does, our economy does. We place value on having fair competition and equal rules. 

"But we also see China as a systemic rival and we don't want that rivalry. 

"We increasingly note that the number of areas is increasing where China has chosen this approach. They won't be upset about that. Therefore, we have to respond in some of these areas, amongst them are areas where we have to defend our markets against China...". 

ends