Germany on Friday assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation and offered technology transfer and joint production of hi-tech weapon systems.

The assurance was given by Germany's Federal State Secretary for Defence Peter Eickenboom during the first Indo-German High Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi.

The assurance by Germany assumes significance as timely supply of weapon systems and spares have in the past clouded India's defence cooperation with some countries.

While India has big arms trade with countries like France and the United Kingdom, defence cooperation with Germany has been lacking in recent years.

Among the technologies, German technology is superior in submarine and heavy artillery guns.

Eickenboom assured India transfer of technology in armament procurement and joint development of armament platforms wherever possible, an official release said.

The two sides agreed to increase defence cooperation in a number of areas including exchange of expertise in peace-keeping operations and exchange of experience in disaster management.

Eickenboom also said that Germany shared India's security perspectives and recognised the growing importance of New Delhi in regional stability and peace, the release said.

"Germany has also assured India that it will be an open and reliable partner in all areas of defence cooperation", it said.

This was the first meeting at the level of Defence Secretary after the signing of bilateral defence agreement between the two sides in September last year during the visit of the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Germany.

The Indian side at the talks was led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt.