Berlin, Nov 3 (IANS): Germans perceive India's rise as an economic power as more of an opportunity than a threat, with a third of them saying that India is of major significance for Germany as a political partner in Asia, showed an opinion poll conducted by an influential think-tank.

Germany should work more intensively with the Asian countries and with India, and insist less on asserting its national interests, concluded the latest representative public opinion poll from the Bertelsmann Foundation.

The German population has an overwhelmingly positive image of India and perceives its economic rise as more of an opportunity than a threat, said a press note.

The poll shows that the majority of Germans regard the development of Asia and in India as positive for Germany.

At the same time, scepticism prevails when it comes to the consequences for the labour market. Every second respondent believes that the economic rise of Asia represents something more akin to an opportunity for Germany. On the other hand, 39 percent regard it as more of a threat.

However, even greater is the belief that Germany will "cope with" the associated political and economic challenges. Four out of five Germans are optimistic in this respect. Only 15 percent fear that Germany will "not cope with" the challenges from Asia.

Only a minority of those questioned regard India as a particular competitor in the procurement of raw materials and the development of new and innovative products.

On the other hand, 35 percent of Germans say that India is of major significance for Germany as a political partner in Asia. Conversely, only a minority regard India as a partner in the battle against climate change and even fewer see it as a financially powerful investor to combat the euro crisis.

In terms of how to respond politically to the developments in Asia, the majority of Germans recommend cooperation rather than confrontation.

A majority of 41 percent regards Germany's current political course as correct and wants to maintain it, and 37 percent of those questioned advocate closer collaboration.