German ambassador Philipp Ackermann calls on Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge posted photographs of his separate meetings with Philipp Ackermann and the outgoing Australian high commissioner Barry O’ Farrell

NEW DELHI: German ambassador Philipp Ackermann on Thursday called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and discussed ways to strengthen ties between the two countries. Ackermann later said in a tweet that this was his first courtesy call to the Congress leader and that he was encouraged by the cross-party support for relations with Germany.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann later tweeted photographs of their meeting (Twitter/kharge)

Kharge, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, also posted photographs of his separate meetings with Ackermann and the outgoing Australian high commissioner Barry O’ Farrell.

“India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, Germany is amongst India’s most valued partners, both bilaterally and in the global context. Met H.E. Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Germany in India, and deliberated upon the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries founded upon common democratic principles and marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect.” the Congress president said in on Twitter.

Kharge also tweeted a photograph with Australia’s outgoing high commissioner. “India and Australia have several commonalities, which serve as a foundation for closer cooperation and multifaceted interaction. Our strategic partnership has grown in strength and in importance,” Kharge said in a post on Twitter.