Germany is keen on collaborating with India in defence technology and equipment, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday as she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The German minister, who is on a three-day visit to India, also met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday night to discuss defence cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday said in a statement that she conveyed Germany's keen interest in collaborating with India in defence technology and equipment, including defence manufacturing in India, cyber security and maritime cooperation.
Leyen also conveyed to Modi that Chancellor Angela Merkel was looking forward to her visit to India in October.
The minister also said India's participation in the Hannover Trade Fair as partner country and Modi's presence at the inauguration had made a "visible impact" in Germany, and there was a strong interest now in the 'Make in India' mission.
Modi reiterated that India considered Germany a vital economic partner, including in areas like skill development and manufacturing.
He invited German companies to take advantage of the enormous opportunities of defence manufacturing and defence research and development in India, and said he looked forward to the visit of Chancellor Merkel later in the year.
Leyen, giving a special address organised by think tank Observer Research Foundation, called India a "natural partner" for Germany.
"I would say India and Germany are natural partners. Germany and India are facing similar challenges of trans national terrorism," Leyen said.
"We depend on stable international order for economic prosperity. We want close dialogue with India as a partner," she said.
The minister said both nations have "open societies" and face threat from extremists.
On her discussions with Modi, whom she met on Wednesday morning, the minister said cyber security was a major issue discussed.
"Whenever IT is discussed in Germany, India comes up... both India and Germany are open societies, and vulnerable to cyber attacks," said Leyen.
She said that during her talks with Modi, they felt there was the need to "create defence and resilience" against cyber attacks by terror groups.
The minister also said Germany, which is coming up with a white paper on its security, will discuss cyber threats in a seminar later this year, and they will invite experts from India.
"If we look at the Indian ocean region, 40 percent of world population lives here, and 50 percent of international trade is done through the region. So there is humongous interest of all nations to have an open sea... We have to be very sensitive, and sensible about any attempt to dominate of close trade routes," said the minister.
"A majority of nations are interested in keeping the region free," she said.
Asked if Germany was looking ahead to play a role in the 'Make in India' initiative of India, the minister said Germany can collaborate on manufacturing of submarines, an issue which is understood to have come up for discussion during her meeting with Defence Minister Parrikar here on Tuesday evening.
"You don't want only to buy but you want a close cooperation by manufacturing and producing parts in India too, which I think is a very smart approach for both sides as close cooperation between strategic partners should never be a one way cooperation or collaboration," she said.
During the talks between Leyen and Parrikar, the two countries discussed cooperation between the armed forces, partnering of Germany in the 'Make in India' initiative in the defence sector and supply of state-of-the-art equipment and technology.
Both sides also exchanged their perceptions on the evolving geo-political events having impact on the security situation.
The German minister's visit to New Delhi is taking place close on the heels of Modi's recent visit to Germany.
Leyen will be visiting the Western Naval Command in Mumbai on Thursday, before concluding her three-day official visit to India.
