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Visiting one-sixth of the world: Foreign Minister Baerbock travels to India
Foreign Minister Baerbock with ther indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, © Kira Hofmann/photothek.de
At the start of India’s G20 Presidency, Foreign Minister Baerbock is visiting to New Delhi on her first official visit from 4 to 6 December. As well as intensifying bilateral relations, the focus will be on key global issues such as containing the climate crisis and preserving the rules-based order.
In 2023, India will become the most populous country in the world. Already the country is regarded as the largest democracy in the world and harbours incomparable religious, cultural and social diversity with vast potential – for the country itself, for the entire Indo-Pacific region and for bilateral cooperation with Germany.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued the following statement prior to her departure for New Delhi:
Without a doubt, India will play a key role in shaping the international order of the 21st century – in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The fact that, over the last 15 years, India has succeeded in lifting more than 400 million people – equivalent to almost the entire population of the EU – out of extreme poverty is impressive.
This shows that a pluralistic society, freedom and democracy are drivers of economic development, peace and stability. We must remain engaged in these efforts and at the same time work to promote human rights
Tackling global challenges, strengthening multilateralism
India is a key partner for Germany in the area of multilateralism, democracy and the preservation of a rules-based order founded on the United Nations Charter. Here, Germany stands shoulder to shoulder with India, which is experiencing numerous challenges in view of the current global situation. By assuming the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2022, India is also showing its willingness to assume responsibility for tackling the most pressing challenges of our times.
The motto of India’s G20 Presidency is “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. In this context, India intends to intensify its engagement in the areas of climate and environment. At the same time, it wants to use its influence to give a stronger voice to states in the so-called global South and their concerns.
Working together for more climate protection
As the second largest bilateral development cooperation donor, Germany is already supporting India’s ambitions in the area of climate and environmental protection. Germany intends to make available to India up to 10 billion euro for climate protection and renewable energies up to 2030 within the context of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership agreed by Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz. The focus of the cooperation is on green mobility, sustainable urban development, environmental protection and the energy transition. The last mentioned is especially vital, for India is the world’s fourth largest emitter of CO2.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said:
The Indian Government has set ambitious goals not only in the G20, but also domestically for its own people. By expanding renewables, India wants to do more than in the past to drive forward the energy transition. Germany is ready to assist India as it does so. For we all are feeling the dramatic consequences of the climate crisis, which destroys livelihoods in both Europe and India
During her visit to India, as well as holding talks with her Indian counterpart Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Baerbock will visit the Gandhi Smriti memorial and the Indian electoral commission and will hold talks with representatives of civil society and NGOs active in the area of women’s rights. The situation of minorities and women in India regularly attracts criticism, despite all the social progress over the last few decades.
She will also attend the India Trilateral Forum of the German Marshall Fund and take part in a panel discussion on the subject of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Foreign Minister Baerbock will also use her visit to India to discuss cooperation in the area of the energy transition. In this context, she will also visit projects focusing on renewables and sustainability in the rural areas surrounding New Delhi.
