PM Modi on six-day visit to Europe: Terrorism, investment high on agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France beginning May 29 with an aim to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation with these countries and invite investments in India.

Prime Minister will travel to Germany on May 29 for the 4th Indo-German Inter-governmental Consultations and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel will host PM Modi at her official Mossberg Country Retreat where the two leaders will have extensive talks on bilateral, global matters and issues of mutual interest. France is a strategic partner of India. Make in India programme has pushed India-France ties to a next level as there are 1600 German companies in India along with 600 Indo-German joint ventures.

SPAIN

Modi will leave Germany for Spain on May 30. He will meet President of Spain Mariano Rajoy and discuss bilateral and other matters of mutual interest.PM will be calling on King Felipe VI of Spain. He will attend a round-table interaction with leading Spanish business leaders to invite investments in India.

RUSSIA

PM Modi will be on a three-day visit to St Petersburg in Russia beginning May 31 to June 02. On the first day , Prime Minister will be having his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin where both the leaders will discuss ways to enhance ties in trade, defence and nuclear sector.Under the 'Strategic Partnership' PM Modi will invite foreign firms to share technology with local players relating to defence equipment to be manufactured in India. PM Modi is likely to raise India's concerns over the China's One Belt One Road initiative.

On the second day, PM and Indian delegation will be participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe.The strategic partnership established in the year 2000 was raised to the level of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in the year 2010. Ever since Russia is the only country with which India have annual summits.

Moscow and New Delhi are in talks over finalization of the general framework agreement for units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant in Tamil Nadu. Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry's Eurasia division G V Srinivas said "the work is in progress" and added "I do not want to steal the thunder of the meeting."

FRANCE

Modi will visit France on June 2 and 3. He will hold extensive talks with President Emmanuel Macron on June 3 to strengthen Paris-New Delhi ties. The two leaders are also like to discuss terrorism, nuclear cooperation besides trade ties.