BERLIN, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced Tuesday plans to extend the country's financial and humanitarian aid to a bilateral "partnership" in South Asia.
"I envisage that all the big industrial countries each take responsibility for one nation," said Schroeder in his annual New Year's address. "Our cities for their cities and our villages for their villages."
Germans welcomed Schroeder's long-term proposal. The country has lost 60 citizens as a result of the tsunami disaster, while another 1,000 are missing.
Cities like Bonn - the former capital - have already set up partnerships with the city of Cuddalore Tamil Nadu in southeast India with the help of a German aid group called "German Agro Action," reported the Deutsche Welle.
"This would show that we want to go much further than pledging money - which is of course important - and that we understand our responsibility as long term," said Schroeder.
Germany has pledged $27 million (20 million euros) for relief of the 11 countries affected by the earthquake and tsunamis.
