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Austrian Chancellor Pays Tribute to Gandhi, Set for Key Talks with PM Modi

Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and his wife paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the Chancellor, expressing confidence that his upcoming discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would open new avenues for cooperation. The visit, Stocker's first to India and to Asia since taking office, is expected to focus on strengthening ties in sectors like green technology, digital innovation, and trade. The trip builds on momentum from PM Modi's 2024 visit to Austria and aims to deepen the bilateral partnership.

Key Points: Austrian Chancellor Visits Rajghat, Meets Jaishankar Ahead of Modi Talks

  • Chancellor pays tribute at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial
  • First official visit to India and Asia since taking office
  • Bilateral talks with PM Modi to focus on green tech and trade
  • Visit aims to give momentum to Enhanced India-Austria partnership
  • Delegation includes business leaders and senior ministers
2 min read

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, wife pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker begins official India visit, pays homage at Rajghat. Set to hold bilateral talks with PM Modi to boost cooperation in trade & green tech.

"Confident that his discussions with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will open new avenues for greater cooperation - S. Jaishankar"

New Delhi, April 16

Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and his wife Gerda Stocker Legenstein laid a wreath and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Rajghat is an open-air memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and marks the site of his cremation on January 31, 1948.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chancellor Stocker on Wednesday during his first official visit to India. The meeting signals a step forward in bilateral ties, with further high-level discussions planned.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Delighted to call on Federal Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker of Austria, as he begins his first official visit to India." He added, "Confident that his discussions with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will open new avenues for greater cooperation across various domains."

The Chancellor arrived in India on Wednesday.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed him, saying, "A warm welcome to Federal Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker of Austria on his first official visit to India." He added that the visit would give further momentum to the "Enhanced India-Austria partnership."

This is Stocker's first visit to India and his first official trip to Asia since taking office in 2025. During his stay in New Delhi, he is expected to hold detailed talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on cooperation in key sectors, green technology, and trade.

Stocker is accompanied by a delegation of business leaders, senior ministers, and government officials. Both sides are expected to explore collaboration in digital innovation, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

The visit comes amid growing economic ties between India and Austria. The two sides are also expected to discuss regional and global issues and their cooperation in international organisations.

India and Austria share long-standing ties based on what officials describe as shared democratic values. The visit also builds on momentum from Prime Minister Modi's trip to Austria in 2024.

Further groundwork had been laid during the eighth India-Austria Foreign Office Consultations held in Vienna on December 12, where Secretary (West) Sibi George and Austrian Secretary General Nikolaus Marschik reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen India-EU engagement.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in renewable energy, I'm particularly excited about the focus on green tech collaboration. Austria has expertise in hydro and wind power that could be very valuable for India's energy transition. A promising partnership.
V
Vikram M
Good to see high-level visits continuing. However, I hope these discussions move beyond just memorandums of understanding and lead to actual job creation and technology transfer in India. We've seen many "enhanced partnerships" with less concrete outcomes.
P
Priya S
Starting the visit at Rajghat is a beautiful and symbolic act. It sets a thoughtful tone. Wishing the delegation a fruitful stay. May the discussions on digital innovation and manufacturing bear fruit for our MSME sector.
R
Rohit P
Austria is a key gateway to the EU market. Strengthening this bilateral relationship is strategically important for trade. Hoping for positive outcomes that simplify processes for our exporters.
M
Michael C
Interesting to note this is his first official trip to Asia. Choosing India sends a strong signal. The focus on shared democratic values is the right foundation for a lasting partnership in today's world.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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