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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Monday favoured resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan on the basis of the Agra process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and said all issues between the two countries should be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
"I have always been very much in favour that the process begun in Agra is resumed and it is continued in improving Indo-Pak relations," he told reporters after being accorded the ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan by Prime Minister Vajpayee and his cabinet colleagues.
Schroeder arrived on Sunday evening on a three-day visit from Islamabad where he met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who later suggested resumption of Indo-Pak summit in New York on the format discussed at the Agra meeting between him and Vajpayee.
The German Chancellor said he was hopeful that the process that began in Agra would be resumed.
On the ongoing war against terrorism, he said India's important role in the fight against the scourge has been recognised globally.
On Indo-German relations, he said though politically they were sound, there was a need to give a thrust to improve economic ties since the economy of both the countries was growing.
Schroeder said considering the large size of the Indian market and the industrial strength of Germany, there should be exchange of visits by the heads of government on an annual basis.
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