New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday held comprehensive talks focusing on improving bilateral ties in the areas of clean energy, trade and new technologies.

The talks came hours after Scholes arrived in Delhi on a two-day visit to India, after taking office as German chancellor in December 2021, following a 16-year stint at the top post.

Earlier, Modi received Scholz at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the German leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

In a tweet, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagshi said Scholz’s visit is an opportunity to further deepen the multifaceted India-Germany strategic partnership.

“Prime Minister @NarendraModi welcomes @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz at Hyderabad residence for bilateral talks. The focus of the talks will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation, building green and sustainable development partnership and economic partnership, and building closer ties on security,” Baxi wrote on Twitter.

The Modi-Scholes talks started at 11:50 am.

Ahead of the talks between the two leaders, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Indo-Pacific region are expected to figure prominently in the discussions, officials said.

The talks will also focus on expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, defence, clean energy, climate change and new technologies, they said.

On November 16 last year, Modi and Scholes held bilateral talks in the resort town of Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

The first meeting between the two leaders took place when Modi visited Berlin on May 2 last year for the sixth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultative Conference (IGC).

Modi then visited the Schloss Elmau Alpine Fort in southern Germany to attend the G7 annual summit on June 26 and 27.

Scholz invited Modi to the G7 summit under the German president.

Relations between India and Germany have improved in several key areas over the past few years.

Scholz will leave for Bengaluru on Sunday morning and leave the southern city around 5:30 pm. PTI MBP RC