PM Modi Highlights Agenda of 2-Day Visit to France as “Meeting with Macron, Cooperation in Key Domains”

Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to attend the Bastille Day festivities in Paris, where he will serve as the Guest of Honor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday that he is making a formal trip to France.

On his two-day trip to Paris on July 13–14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to place a lot of emphasis on strengthening bilateral defense ties.

This year, India and France celebrate their strategic partnership’s 25th anniversary. The two nations work closely together in a number of fields, including commerce, investment, education, defense, space exploration, and civil nuclear power.

“I’m excited to see President Macron and have in-depth conversations about how to move our enduring and tried-and-true alliance forward over the next 25 years. Since my last official visit to France in 2022, I have had the chance to see President Macron numerous times, most recently in Hiroshima, Japan in May 2023 at the G-7 Summit, according to PM Modi’s statement on his departure, which was made public on Thursday.

The French leadership, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, Senate President Gerard Larcher, and National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet, will be discussed, according to the prime minister.

An Indian tri-services contingent will take part in the Bastille Day Parade during the French National Day or Bastille Day festivities.

Along with French aircraft, three Rafale fighter planes from the Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in the flypast on this special occasion.

According to PM Modi, he would meet with major CEOs from both nations as well as France and members of the Indian diaspora.

“I will have the chance to meet the dynamic Indian community, top CEOs from both nations, as well as well-known French figures, during my tour. I am convinced that my visit would give our strategic cooperation a fresh momentum, added PM Modi.

On July 15, Modi will depart from Paris for an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he will meet Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President and Ruler of the UAE.

The 28th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP-28) will be held in the United Arab Emirates later this year. In order to assist the energy transition and the implementation of the Paris Agreement, I also look forward to discussing ideas on how to deepen international collaboration in the fight against climate change.

The visit to the United Arab Emirates, he said, will open a new chapter in their comprehensive strategic partnership.