Dr. Jurgen Morhard at News9 Global Summit
News9 Global Summit 2025: In TV9 Network’s News9 Global Summit organized in Germany, important discussions were held on the depth of relations and future expectations between India and Germany. In this summit, ‘Paradiplomacy’ i.e. cooperation at the level of cities and states, going beyond the traditional diplomacy between two countries, was seen as a new dimension. Retired Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard, President of the Indo-German Society (DIG) spoke on this topic.
Government meetings are just a formality
Dr. Morhard started his address with a piercing question. He said that when heads of state or ministers of two countries meet, it is given big names like ‘strategic partnership’. Bureaucrats prepare for these meetings months in advance and the press release is written even before the meeting takes place. He raised the question, “Honestly, do these formal one-hour meetings really create friendships? I doubt it.” He believed that real relationships are not formed when hands are joined in front of the camera, but when people of two countries become a part of each other’s life. He described traditional diplomacy as ‘old school’ thinking and said that it is often devoid of emotions and follows a pre-determined script.
Trust is built when people connect, not just governments
Dr. Morhard described the idea of ’Paradiplomacy’ as the future of India-Germany relations. He explained that this is not a complicated theory, but a very human and grassroots connection. This diplomacy happens when cities of two countries become partners, there is exchange of students between universities, children in schools learn each other’s culture or ordinary citizens visit each other’s country as tourists. He shared a very touching experience of his life. He said, “I have seen with my own eyes how trust was reestablished between enemy countries like France and Germany after the Second World War. This happened not through any big political agreement, but through mutual partnerships between cities.” He recalled how football matches, concert tours and volunteer fire brigade outings healed wounds that governments could never heal. “You can sign peace treaties, but friendship has to live,” he stressed.
Culture, experience and familiarity.. this is real diplomacy
Sharing the experiences of his diplomatic life, Dr. Morhard said that whenever he met an exchange student, teacher or volunteer, there was a special sparkle in his eyes. This glow came from the experiences of living with a family from another country, learning their language and celebrating festivals like Diwali or Christmas together. He said that these small experiences change a person forever. He spoke about how the Indo-German Society helps provide a home-like environment to Indian students coming to Germany and how German families experience the diversity, warmth and optimism of India in their own homes. He called it ‘the diplomacy of everyday life’, a diplomacy that is calm, steady and deeply humane. He said real change comes when a German family hosts an Indian student or when a young Indian finds not just a job but a community in Germany.
Friendship between two countries can be improved only by the people of the same country.
Dr. Morhard ended his address with a powerful message. He said, “Governments can sign agreements, but only people can build trust. Governments create structures, but bridges are built by people, and bridges built by people always last.” He appealed to everyone present there to be a part of this human connection, so that the official relations between India and Germany can turn into a vibrant and deep friendship. This paradiplomacy is not second-rate diplomacy, but the soul of diplomacy, which makes everything else possible.