Reflecting their desire to deepen the strategic partnership, India and Germany have for the first time discussed the possibilities of entering into bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referred to the prospects of the two countries entering into the new area of cooperation while hailing Germany’s supportive role in the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which gave a crucial waiver in 2008 to help India come out of 34-year-old nuclear apartheid.
“On the bilateral side, we deeply value Germany’s consistent support, including in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, for the opening of international commerce for India in the field of civil nuclear energy. We have discussed the possibilities of entering into bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy,” Dr Singh told a joint news conference on Saturday night after wide ranging talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Vivek Katju, secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, told reporters that Germany has “certain strengths” in the nuclear power generation which contributes in a big way to the country’s electricity needs.
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‘Will work for UNSC reform’
Berlin, Dec. 12: Basking in the glory of getting non-permanent seats in UN Security Council, India and Germany said they will work “hard” in advancing reforms of the body. The broad strategies on how the two countries will move forward on the issue of the much awaited reforms of the UNSC were outlined by Dr Singh at a joint news conference. —PTI