Page 23 - ICWA NewsletterOctober- December 2020
P. 23
INDIAN COUNCIL
OF WORLD AFFAIRS SAPRU HOUSE
Second Indo-German Track 1.5 Dialogue
27 November 2020
The Indian Council of World Affairs in of convergence on the
A collaboration with Research and Information Indo-Pacific; India had
System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi welcomed the Indo-Pacific Guidelines released by
organised a Track 1.5 Dialogue with its German Germany earlier this year; and that the two sides
counter-parts - German Institute of Global and needed to work together in advancing practical
Area Studies (GIGA)-Stiftung Wissenschaft und cooperation in Indo-Pacific region to ensure security
Politik (SWP)-Bertelsmann Stiftung on 27 November and growth for all. He noted that climate change was
2020. This was the second round of the Dialogue; an area on which India and Germany had a strong
the first was held on the side-lines of the bilateral convergence of views. He called upon Germany to
Inter-Governmental Consultations in New Delhi in join the International Solar Alliance. The full text of
November 2019. Opening Statements were delivered his remarks are at https://bit.ly/3c9lZRE
by Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary, State Minister Niels Annen, Federal Foreign Office,
Ministry of External Affairs, India and Niels Annen, Germany said that the on-going health crisis
State Minister, Federal Foreign Office, Gernamy. had significantly altered the political, social and
Discussions were structured in two sessions on economic landscape. COVID-19 and the US-China
Foreign & Security Policy and Trade & Economics. trade conflict and worsening bilateral relations have
Shri Harsh Vardhan made nations in Europe position themselves to
Shringla, Foreign protect their political and economic interests. China
Secretary, in his is a partner of Germany on issues like the pandemic,
address said that a competitor on issues like manufacturing, trade
the health crisis had and investment, and a rival on issues like human
brought discussions rights, territorial disputes, etc. On Indo-Pacific, he
on international said that Germany recognised the need to upgrade
cooperation and on its role in the Indo-Pacific. Germany gives significant
how to deal with post importance to free, open and safe sea routes.
pandemic economic Germany and India have an important role to play in
recovery into sharper the region. There is a need to bring in more countries
focus. The pandemic had within the ambit of the Indo-Pacific having the
brought to the fore the need scope of a multilateral dialogue. He expressed
for more secure, reliable appreciation for India’s active, positive and dynamic
and resilient supply chains. role in the Indo-Pacific. He also noted Germany and
The Atmanirbhar Bharat or India’s convergences in the areas of climate change,
Self Reliant India Campaign human rights, connectivity.
launched by PM Modi Session I on Foreign and Security Policy was chaired
merged domestic production and consumption by Dr TCA Raghavan, Director General, Indian
with global supply chains. India had undertaken Council of World Affairs. Speakers included Amb.
a number of reforms in the labour, agriculture Anil Wadhwa, Former Ambassador of India and
and investment sector which create greater Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International
investment opportunities for German companies. Foundation and Prof. Dr. Amrita Narlikar, President,
There exists great potential for collaboration in GIGA. Session II on Trade and Economics was
the area of digitalization, innovation, start-ups, chaired by Ms. Anika Laudien, Project Manager,
new and emerging technologies, climate sensitive Bertelsmann Stiftung. The speakers of the session
technologies. While Germany has the R&D were Dr. Hanns-Günther Hilpert, Head of Research
capability in technology, India had the human Division Asia, SWP and Prof. S.K. Mohanty, RIS,
resources and the market to complement. He New Delhi. Discussions were held on the impact of
said that India and Germany had a high degree COVID-19 on respective economies.
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