NEW DELHI, October 30, SPA -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she plans to boost relations with India in the areas of business, science and politics. Merkel, on her first visit to India, was to meet with thecountry's top leaders Tuesday. The two countries will signagreements in defense cooperation, science and technologyand intellectual property rights, the Associated Press reported. Merkel told reporters after a ceremonial reception atIndia's presidential palace that she hoped her visit wouldenhance «the very strong relationship between India andGermany,» and that the two nations would see increasedcooperation in the fields of politics, economics andscience. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responded by sayingthat India seeks the support of Germany «in our quest toget rid of poverty, ignorance and disease.» He called Merkel «a great statesman ... a great friend ofour country.» Merkel and Singh inaugurated the «Science Express» trainthat will travel across India for a year highlighting thetwo countries' cooperation in science and technology. An Indo-German Science and Technology Research Center will be created to facilitate cooperation in industrial andbasic research, said India's External Affairs Ministryspokesman Navtej Sarna. Merkel was to hold separate meetings Tuesday withPresident Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Singh, VicePresident Hamid Ansari, Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi,and the leader of the opposition Lal Krishna Advani. Among the topics likely to be discussed were terrorism,climate change and closer cooperation between the G-8 andleading developing nations like India. Germany currentlyholds the G-8 presidency. Merkel was also scheduled to meet Indian business leadersover lunch.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/494885