ZZED Reporter
On the eve of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with French President Emmanuel Macron here on Wednesday.
“PM @narendramodi meets Macron in Paris. This meeting will boost India-France relations “The PM’s office tweeted a photo of Modi and Macron hugging.
Macron met Modi before the delegation-level meetings at the Elysee Palace, the French President’s official home.
“A reunion of two buddies. An opportunity to re-energize the India-France Strategic Partnership with President @EmmanuelMacron’s renewed mandate “Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokeswoman, tweeted.
After arriving from Denmark, Modi will meet with Macron, who was re-elected to the presidency over a week ago. His visit coincides with the Ukraine issue, which has polarised Europe.
The two presidents are also likely to discuss ways to end hostilities in Ukraine and reduce the conflict’s global economic impact.
In a Tuesday phone call with Putin, Macron asked Moscow to fulfil its role as a permanent member of the US Security Council by ceasing this deadly action.
On Wednesday in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Modi met with his Nordic counterparts from Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Modi stated that India believes no country will win the Russia-Ukraine war as all will lose and the impact on developing and poor countries will be “more serious.”
The meetings will also address the Indo-Pacific concerns, as China flexes its might in the region.
Modi named France as one of India’s key partners in a tweet shortly after his arrival.
Diplomatic sources claimed Modi’s meeting with Macron is significant. It sends a strong signal that the two leaders aim to make the Indo-French alliance a cornerstone of their future foreign policy, they say.
It also shows the two leaders’ personal chemistry, which they say fuels their collaborative actions in all spheres of cooperation.
After Macron’s re-election last week, Modi will be among the first world leaders to meet. It was just after Macron’s election. Modi tweeted, “I look forward to developing the India-French Strategic Partnership.”
His visit coincides with France’s EU presidency. It also marks the 75th anniversary of India-France diplomatic relations.
August 2019, June 2017, November 2015, and April 2015 were Modi’s previous visits.
Macron went to India in March. Ahead of the G20 summits in Rome in October 2021, Osaka in June 2019 and Buenos Aires in December 2018, both leaders met.
This multidimensional collaboration spans defence, civil nuclear, economics, space and maritime security and counter-terrorism as well as people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Modi announced the International Solar Alliance in November 2015 at the UN Climate Change COP21.
Both countries have a strong economic relationship, with bilateral trade worth USD 7.86 billion in 2020-21 and cumulative FDI worth USD 9.83 billion since April 2000.
The French corporate community in India numbers over a thousand, spanning areas such as heavy industry and defence. Over 7,000 people work for 150 Indian enterprises in France. Indophiles in France strengthen the cultural ties between India and France.
Modi said before leaving for Europe: “President Macron was recently re-elected, and my visit ten days later would not only allow me to personally congratulate him, but also reaffirm the two countries’ close alliance. As a result, we will be able to shape the next chapter of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership.”
“President Macron and I will speak about regional and global issues, as well as our ongoing bilateral cooperation.” I am convinced that two countries with such comparable global visions and values must work closely together “he remarked.
On Tuesday, Modi met with his Danish colleague Mette Frederiksen and attended a business gathering to explore economic ties.
In addition to the post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, renewable energy, and emerging global security scenarios were discussed at the second India-Nordic summit.
On the fringes of the conference, Modi met with his colleagues from Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland.
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