Manik Mehta

Frankfurt, Jan 20 Even as the Google incident makes the Western world a little wary of doing business in China, German President Horst Koehler's visit to India February 1-7, the first by this country's head of state in seven years, is seen as a "clear sign" of the strengthening ties between New Delhi and Berlin.

The German president's office has announced that Koehler was visiting India at the invitation of Indian President Pratibha Patil. Koehler's visit will be the first by a German president since the visit by German president Johannes Rau in March 2003.

Ajit Kumar, the Indian consul general described Koehler's visit as a "clear sign" of the ensuing intensity of high-level contacts between the two sides.

Citing India's "growing weight in the international arena", Kumar said that the German president's visit underscores the significance Germany attaches to India as a partner not only in a bilateral but also multilateral context.

Bilateral interaction between India and Germany is poised to intensify in the near future, with visits by several high-powered business and political delegations planned in both countries.

"You will see an intensification of bilateral interaction at the highest level between the two sides," Kumar said.

"Already, we have various mechanisms in place, institutionalising a regular exchange of top contacts in different fields between the two sides. These mechanisms will be further bolstered with greater high-level interaction in the future," he added.

German experts on India say that the forthcoming visit of Koehler, who will be accompanied by his wife Eva Luise and other important German figures from politics and business, will provide a strong impetus to bilateral relations that should ultimately move towards a strategic partnership.

Germany has in the past partnered with India on a number of international issues, including the G-4 which, along with Brazil and Japan, has been calling for the reform of the UN and overhauling of the Security Council. India and Germany, along with the other two members, seek a permanent seat for each of the G-4 members.