NEW DELHI: India and Germany agreed to work together to tackle the threat of global warming, speed up the success of worldwide trade talks and boost the two countries’ business, science and defence ties.

India-Germany trade has doubled within the past three years to $15.1 billion (euro10.5 billion ) a year, and they agreed to try to nearly double it by 2012, said a joint statement released at the end of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The two countries also said they agreed “to enhance cooperation in tackling cyber crime, illegal migration, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and international terrorism.”

Germany will contribute $210 million (euro150 million) to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in India in a bid to protect the global climate, the statement said.

The two sides signed six agreements, covering mutual protection of classified defence information; cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks; and setting up science and technology projects. They said they will also cooperate in defence technological research and arms procurement.

Merkel, on her first India visit as chancellor, said Germany is ready to help India in energy, science and technology, and in building roads and improving railroads.

Addressing India’s top businessmen, she said climate change loomed large on the international agenda, and “the developing countries should avoid the mistakes committed by the developed countries.”

Merkel said India could play a constructive role in concluding the World Trade Organization talks, which have stalled since their inception six years ago, largely due to disputes between rich and poor countries over eliminating barriers to agricultural trade.

Singh called Merkel “a great statesman” and “a great friend of our country.”

An Indo-German Science and Technology Research Center will be created in India to facilitate cooperation in industrial and basic research, said India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Navtej Sarna.

Germany currently holds the G-8 presidency.

Merkel, on a four-day visit to India, is accompanied by a 30-member delegation including the new chief of industrial conglomerate Siemens AG, Peter Loescher, and senior managers from chemical company BASF and the Deutsche Bahn railroad firm.

She was also set to visit Mumbai, India’s financial and entertainment capital, where she will meet top Indian business leaders on Wednesday.

Merkel was scheduled to return to Germany on Thursday.—AP