India, Germany to have pacts on anti-terror steps, trade ties

India and Germany are set to push for the proposed agreements on expanding counter-terror cooperation and economic ties during talks between German President Horst Koehler and Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a high-profile business delegation, Koehler, the first German head of state to visit India since 2003, is coming on a week-long trip.

The key objective of the German president's visit "is to open up new avenues for Germany and India to work together in developing a 21st-century world policy based on mutual cooperation", the German embassy said in New Delhi on Monday.

Manmohan Singh will hold talks with Koehler Tuesday on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. The two leaders will discuss a host of global challenges, including international terrorism, global financial crisis, climate change and poverty reduction.

Koehler is slated to meet President Pratibha Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

India and Germany may also discuss the possibilities of civil nuclear cooperation. Germany supported India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and is keen to offer its expertise in nuclear security if New Delhi requests for it.

Koehler, the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has a meeting with Reserve Bank of India Governor D Subbarao in Mumbai on Friday and will discuss issues relating to the global financial crisis and fiscal regulation.

- Asian Tribune -