German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday joined world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in voicing open criticism of protectionism and lauded India and China for continuing to pursue an approach of multilateral cooperation with the European Union. Citing examples, she said if major countries like India, China and the US start framing their foreign policies nationally, they “will fail”. “If we look at India and China, they all are for cooperation with the European Union,” Merkel said. Protectionism is not the answer... We also believe that multilateralism is the right answer and unilateral decisions are obviously not right,” Merkel said. If 27 European Union member states are not able to send a clear and united signal to big countries such as China, India, the US, we will fail,” she said.

Source: Hindustan Times January 24, 2018 15:56 UTC