India, Jan. 9 -- New Delhi German ambassador Philipp Ackermann met defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday to discuss the co-production of defence equipment ahead of a visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The meeting was held against the backdrop of speculation in diplomatic circles that the two sides could finalise an intergovernmental enabling agreement during Merz's visit for a Rs.70,000-crore deal to supply six stealth submarines to the Indian Navy.

Ackermann conveyed new year greetings to the defence secretary on behalf of the German side, and they "discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues including priority areas for co-development & co-production of defence equipment", the defence ministry said on...