During Modi’s two-day visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their commitment towards strengthening bilateral cooperation and global partnerships. In a joint statement, both leaders commended the ‘progress made in such areas’ with a promise to ‘move ahead to accelerate our collaboration.
Areas of critical interest that the two leaders discussed include a wide range of Indo-Pacific issues, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and strategic partnerships in defence, nuclear energy and space. They also called for cooperation in technology and innovation, both in relation to the recent AI Action Summit and India-France Year of Innovation slated in 2026.
From all aspects of the India-France strategic partnership, the talks covered all. According to the release by the Indian government’s official, the two leaders discussed progress in defence, civil nuclear energy and space and explored areas of closer collaboration in the realms of technology and innovation. They also highlighted the need to expand investment and trade ties between the two and welcomed the results of the 14th India-France CEOs Forum.
On Tuesday, Macron and Modi also travelled together to Marseille from Paris on the French Presidential Aircraft. Macron hosted a private dinner for Modi in Marseille, where both men have a strong personal rapport. They also jointly inaugurated India’s Consulate General of Italy in Marseille, strengthening diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The leaders also visited the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility to underscore their resolve to pursue science and also clean energy.
At a time when the world is dealing with transnational challenges like terrorism and the pandemic, PM Modi stated that what is required is reform of and a better functioning of a reformed and effective multilateral order in order to ensure global peace, development on an equitable basis, and preparedness for new challenges in the technological and the economic domains. They said both would deepen engagements in the Indo-Pacific and cooperate on global issues for mutual growth and stability.
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