Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told French Defence Minister Florence Parly that New Delhi was keen to step up cooperation with France in defence manufacturing within the 'Make in India' framework.
Parly, who is on a visit to New Delhi, called on the prime minister on Saturday.
She briefed Modi about the developments in India-France bilateral defence cooperation and her parleys with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Modi told the french minister that defence cooperation was one of the key pillars of the strategic partnership between India and France.
He called for greater cooperation in 'Make in India' framework in defence manufacturing and joint research and development, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
They also discussed "regional and global issues of mutual interest".
"Discussed furthering India-France defence cooperation during the meeting with @florence_parly, France's Minister for the Armed Forces," Modi tweeted after the meeting.
"Make in India offers great opportunities for defence manufacturing, joint research & development," Parly posted on Twitter.
"With @narendramodi, India is a key partner (of France). Shared values and convergence on major regional and international issues,"
Modi told Parly that he looked forward to hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in India.
Macron, who took over as French president in May, is likely to visit New Delhi in December.
Parly was in Nagpur in Maharashtra on Friday to attend the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) manufacturing facility in Mihan.
The facility, set up by a joint venture between French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation Limited and Reliance Aerospace Limited of India, will manufacture several components related to offset obligation under $ 7.87 billion (nearly Rs 59,000 crore) deal to buy 36 Rafale combat aircraft India procuring from France.
On Friday, Sitharaman and Parly discussed a host of issues, including the regional security situation, enhancing maritime security cooperation, transfer of critical technology from France for various defence projects in India and ways to ramp up overall strategic ties.