Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held separate bilateral talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held separate bilateral talks

Apulia (Italy): Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the ongoing G7 summit in Italy. During the bilateral talks, India and France expressed their commitment to taking their strategic partnership to new heights. President Macron congratulated Modi for becoming Prime Minister for the third consecutive time. PM Modi thanked President Macron for this. Along with this, the two leaders reviewed India-France bilateral relations with a focus on ‘Horizon 2047’ and the Indo-Pacific roadmap. 

During this, “the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen partnerships in the areas of defense, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity, and culture. They also agreed to focus more on ‘Make in India’ and further accelerate strategic defense cooperation. They also agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of AI, critical and emerging technologies, energy, and sports while working together in the context of the upcoming AI Summit to be held in France in 2025 and the United Nations Ocean Conference. 

Modi and Macron also exchanged views on major global and regional issues during the talks. They emphasized that a strong and reliable strategic partnership between India and France is necessary for a stable and prosperous global order. It was agreed to work together to take it to greater heights. Prime Minister Modi also wished President Macron all the best for the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Let us tell you that this is Modi’s first foreign visit after becoming Prime Minister for the third time. Modi and Macron last met in January, when the French President attended India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations. During their last meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, which has been outlined in ‘Horizon 2047’ and other documents of the July 2023 summit. 

The ‘Horizon 2047’ roadmap sets an ambitious and comprehensive program in terms of bilateral relations for the centenary of India’s independence. It is noteworthy that PM Modi is attending the 50th G7 summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giordano Meloni. He will address a session related to artificial intelligence (AI), energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, along with the leaders of other invited countries and Pope Francis.