New Delhi: Her Excellency Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, hosted His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, during an official visit to Denmark on 3-4 May 2022.
The Danish Prime Minister welcomed Prime Minister Modi to Denmark and expressed her gratitude for being able to return the very warm welcome and hospitality that she experienced during her official visit to India in October 2021.
Green Strategic Partnership
The Green Strategic Partnership, established during the Virtual Summit between the two Prime Ministers in September, 2020, has become a catalyst for enhanced cooperation between India and Denmark. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the concrete progress under the Green Strategic Partnership and reconfirmed their commitment to democratic values, rule of law and respect for human rights on which the Green Strategic Partnership is based.
The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in various areas since the visit of Prime Minister Frederiksen to India in October 2021 especially in the sectors of renewable energy, health, shipping, and water.
The two leaders took note of the progress in the work of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and welcomed planned Danish support to the work of ISA, including through strengthening the Secretariat of ISA.
The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in collaboration in the fields of urban and rural water supply, groundwater mapping, wastewater management, river rejuvenation and digitalization. They welcomed the intention of both countries to deepen and expand the existing cooperation in the field of safe and secure water to meet present and future demand through a holistic and sustainable approach. They looked forward to the early signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Danish Environment Ministry as a broad-based framework to enhance the existing cooperation and to launch new initiatives, including a Smart Laboratory on Clean River Water in Varanasi and a Centre of Excellence on Smart Water Resources Management.
The two Prime Ministers looked forward to the midterm evaluation of the Green Strategic Partnership under the Joint Commission and agreed to work towards an enhanced strategic perspective for a Comprehensive Green Strategic Partnership once the existing Joint Action Plan ends in 2026.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to maintain regular high-level interactions in the run up to the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2024 and agreed to commemorate it in a befitting manner.
Trade and Investments
The two Prime Ministers underlined the importance of bilateral trade and investments and stressed the need to maximize the potential of economic ties between the two countries. They affirmed that robust bilateral investments and trade flows through diversified, resilient, transparent, open, secure and predictable global supply chains would ensure economic security and prosperity of their peoples.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed Danish investments in India especially in the renewable energy, water, terminals and port modernization and expansion, food processing and engineering sectors and India’s investments in Denmark especially in the Information Technology sector. They noted that such investments have made India the country where Danish companies have the largest number of employees outside of Denmark. Both the leaders agreed that the opportunities created by the Green Strategic Partnership will likely lead to an upward trajectory in bilateral trade and investment.
16. In this context, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of the “India Green Finance Initiative”, which aims to contribute to financing green projects in India with the purpose of accelerating green growth and job creation in India.
Health, vaccine partnerships and Covid-19
The two Prime Ministers confirmed the importance of cooperation on health as being part of the Green Strategic Partnership.
The two sides confirmed their continued collaboration in the field of antimicrobial resistance. India conveyed its acceptance of the Danish invitation to join the International Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) as Mission Partner.
The Danish Prime Minister confirmed Danish accession to the Global Digital Health Partnership on India’s invitation to improve public health and well-being through evidence-based digital technologies.
Cultural Cooperation
The two Prime Ministers agreed on the importance of cultural exchanges and welcomed the signing of a new Cultural Exchange Program.
Multilateral cooperation
The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international order, and a strengthened and reformed multilateral system.
The two Prime Ministers confirmed their commitment to work towards reforming the UN, including the UN Security Council, to make it more effective, transparent and accountable. The Danish Prime Minister reiterated Denmark’s support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council. Prime Minister Modi confirmed India’s support for Denmark’s candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026.
Climate Cooperation
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the international agreement at COP26 on the need for accelerated climate action for holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degree above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree above pre-industrial level. The two sides confirmed the aspirations – through the Green Strategic Partnership – to take global leadership in pushing for ambitious green energy transition and demonstrate the pathways to achieving it, focusing both on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The Danish Prime Minister stressed Denmark’s commitment to speed up the phase out of fossil fuels and the deployment of renewable energy in Denmark to reach the goal of reducing emissions by 70 percent by 2030. Denmark was also determined to push for an acceleration of the implementation of the European Green Deal.