Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed bilateral and global issues at length and agreed on an ambitious agenda for the next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
PM Modi tweeted in English and French languages, “As always, it was a pleasure to meet my friend President Emmanuel Macron. We had long talks on bilateral and global issues. India and France Proud development partners with our partnership spanning various sectors Huh.” Along with a photo of him and Macron hugging each other.
As always, it was a pleasure to meet my friend President @Emmanuel Macron, We had long talks on bilateral and global issues. India and France are proud development partners with our partnership spanning multiple sectors. pic.twitter.com/5Kjqcjf0tQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 4 May 2022
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also tweeted about the meeting. “PM @narendramodi and French President @EmmanuelMacron held warm and detailed talks. Agreed on an ambitious agenda for the next phase of the India-France Strategic Partnership. Underscored that the India-France partnership will lead to peace, progress and prosperity. is a force to be reckoned with,” wrote Arindam Bagchi.
PM Modi, who arrived from Denmark on the final leg of his three-nation European tour, was accorded a warm welcome by the French President at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
#watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris
(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/D5PxknMfsK
— ANI (@ANI) 4 May 2022
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the meeting between the two leaders would give impetus to the Indo-French friendship. Macron held a tet-a-tet with PM Modi ahead of delegation-level talks at the Elysee Palace. President of France.
“The meeting between two friends. Opportunity to give a renewed impetus to the new mandate of President Emmanuel Macron for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership,” Bagchi tweeted at the start of the meeting.
PM Modi’s visit comes amid the Ukraine crisis that has united Europe against Russia.
The two leaders are expected to discuss ensuring an end to hostilities in Ukraine and mitigating the global economic consequences of this conflict. On Tuesday, Macron spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and urged Moscow to rise to the level of its responsibility as one. Permanent member of the US Security Council by ending this devastating invasion, said a statement by Elysee.
The issue of Ukraine also figured prominently at the second India-Nordic summit which was attended by Prime Minister Modi and his counterparts from Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark in Copenhagen on Wednesday.
PM Modi has said that India believes that no country will be victorious in the Russo-Ukraine war as everyone will suffer and there will be a “more serious” impact on developing and poor countries.
Another focus area of the talks is believed to be to unitely tackle the challenges in the Indo-Pacific, amid China’s flexing muscles in the region.
Soon after arriving here, PM Modi had described France as one of India’s strongest partners, with both countries cooperating in diverse fields.
Diplomatic sources said PM Modi’s meeting with Macron a few days after the election victory is highly symbolic. He said this sends a powerful signal that the two leaders want the India-France partnership to be the guiding principle of their foreign policy for years to come.
It is also a demonstration of the level of personal chemistry between the two leaders, which gives impetus to our joint work in all areas of cooperation, he said.
PM Modi was among the first few world leaders to meet President Macron after President Macron was re-elected last week. He congratulated Macron after his re-election. His visit is taking place during the French presidency of the European Union. It also coincides with 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and France.
This is PM Modi’s fifth visit to France after August 2019, June 2017, November 2015 and April 2015.
Macron visited India in March 2018. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 Rome Summit in October 2021, the G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019 and the G20 Buenos Aires Summit in December 2018.
India and France, which have been strategic partners since 1998, have a multi-faceted partnership in defence, civil nuclear, economy, space and maritime security, clean energy and environment, counter-terrorism, people-to-people ties.
India and France are the founding members of the International Solar Alliance announced by Prime Minister Modi at the United Nations Climate Change COP21 in November 2015.
The two countries have enjoyed a strong economic partnership since April 2000 with bilateral trade of USD 7.86 billion (2020-21) and cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 9.83 billion.
There are over a thousand French businesses present in India in sectors such as defence, IT, consulting, engineering services and heavy industries. More than 150 Indian companies in France employ over 7,000 people.
A thriving Indian Diaspora in France deepens the cultural ties between the two countries.
PM Modi, who arrived here from Copenhagen, held “productive talks” with his Danish counterpart Mette Fredriksen on Tuesday and also attended a business summit to discuss economic ties. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday attended the second India-Nordic summit, which mainly focused on the post. -Pandemic economic recovery, climate change, renewable energy and the evolving global security landscape.
During the summit in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Modi held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.
(with PTI inputs)