PM’s Euro trip: What to expect as Modi heads to four nations for better ties

The Prime Minister will meet Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin among other top leaders for discussions on strategic cooperation, business relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Germany, Spain, Russia and France during a Europe trip between May 29 and June 3.

Prime Minister’s first stop on the Europe trip is in Germany, where he and Chancellor Angela Merkel will address a meeting of business leaders from both countries. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

A look at what is on the Prime Minister’s schedule in each of the countries:

Germany

Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, will host the Prime Minister at her official Meseberg Country Retreat on May 29 where they will discuss issues of mutual interest. The two will hold the 4th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations [IGC] the next day.

Modi and Merkel will jointly addressing a business meeting with top CEOs from both countries. Later in the day, Modi will make a courtesy call on President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

India and Germany enjoy a strategic partnership and Berlin has been a key partner in the sphere of technology and as a fellow G-4 member (Japan, Brazil and India are others in the grouping). German investments and participation of Deutsch companies in Make in India. Germany will bring up the signing of Bilateral Investment Treaty, which ensures protection of investments, in the meeting.

Modi will leave Germany for Spain late on May 30. He will meet President of Spain Mariano Rajoy and discuss bilateral and other issues of mutual interest. As part of the programme, Prime Minister will be calling on King Felipe VI of Spain. He will also have a round-table interaction with leading Spanish business leaders keen to invest in India.

Russia

Prime Minister will be in Russia on June 1 and 2. He will be part of the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit in St Petersburg on June 1, with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. It is the first time the annual summit will be held in Russia outside Moscow. After the summit, Modi will participate, also for the first time, in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 2, 2017 as the guest of honour. Russia was the first country with which India instituted annual summits. The two sides are working overtime to sign framework agreement for Kudankulam reactors 5 and 6. Defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, situation in Afghanistan, energy cooperation are main areas of discussions.

France

PM Modi will visit France on June 2 and 3. He will hold talks with President Emmanuel Macron on June 3 and discuss issues of mutual interest to further strengthen India-France strategic ties. Modi is among the first foreign guests for the Macron, who took office on May 14. Nuclear cooperation, terrorism, and greater participation of French companies in India are among topics of discussion between the two leaders.