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Minister of State Niels Annen visits India
Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, will visit New Delhi from 17 to 18 July.
He will hold political talks in the city on foreign, regional and security policy topics with Mobashar Jawed Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs; Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, former Indian Ambassador to Germany; and Ajit K. Doval, National Security Adviser.
Minister of State Annen will also meet acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal for talks on current trade and economic policy issues with the Indian Government. Goyal also serves as Minister of Railways. With 1.3 million employees, Indian Railways, the national railway system operated by the Ministry of Railways, is one of the largest employers in the world. There is a huge need for investment and modernisation in the Indian rail network. Germany wishes to support India in building new lines and expanding existing ones and in making rail travel safer.
Talks with representatives of Indian think tanks and members of civil society will also form an important part of the Minister of State’s visit. Their talks will focus on current foreign and domestic policy issues, as well as climate policy.
Prior to his departure, Minister of State Annen said:
During my first official visit to New Delhi I will primarily discuss international issues that are of great importance to both our countries. India and Germany have been united for many years by a strategic partnership that facilitates such in-depth and open political exchange.
I am also very much looking forward to my discussions with representatives of India’s very vibrant and diverse civil society and think tanks.