Latest update: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the ties between India and France and said that the words 'liberty, equality and fraternity' were also embedded in the Indian Constitution. India and France signed 14 agreements as Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi issued a joint statement. The French president met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House. Emmanuel Macron met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. He and his wife earlier paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
French president Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Delhi on Friday night on a four-day India visit and was received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special gesture.
Macron was accompanied by his wife Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron, besides senior ministers from his Cabinet.
"Welcome to India, President @EmmanuelMacron! Your visit will add great strength to the strategic partnership between India and France. I look forward to our talks tomorrow," Modi tweeted after receiving Macron at the airport.
“I look forward to our talks tomorrow. Looking forward to co-chairing the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance with President @EmmanuelMacron on 11th March. The ISA is a unique effort that brings the world together to harness solar energy and create a cleaner as well as greener future,” he tweeted.
During the visit, the two countries would look to boost ties, especially in the areas of maritime security and counter-terrorism.
French president Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue joint statement. Screenshot from Youtube video
An agreement on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, which is being built with French assistance, is expected to be signed during the visit, sources in New Delhi said.
Stepping up cooperation in the Indian Ocean region will be one of the top issues that will be discussed by Macron and Prime Minister Modi during delegation-level talks on Saturday.
"France has particularly supported India's perspective on terror in South Asia. We are seeing convergence in new areas, particularly maritime security, counter-terrorism and renewable energy," K Nagraj Naidu, joint secretary (Europe-west), told reporters.
Besides defence, cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy and space are the other pillars of the strategic partnership between India and France.
The two sides will also sign an agreement on co-development of a full-fledged satellite constellation in the maritime domain.
"In the area of space, India and France have a matured engagement and we would like to take it to a new level," Naidu said.
The Indo-French cooperation in the area of space is more than five-decades-old.
Besides conventional areas, thrust would also be on renewable energy, high-speed train and stepping cooperation in trade.
The bilateral trade between India and France for the period from April 2016 to March 2017 was USD 10.95 billion. France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of USD 6.09 billion from April 2000 to October 2017.
After holding delegation-level talks with Modi tomorrow, Macron will take part in a Town Hall and have an interactive session, in which nearly 300 students from different institutions are expected to participate.
On the same day, he will also take part in a Knowledge Summit which will be attended by more than 200 academicians from both sides.
On 11 March, President Macron will attend the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit, an initiative mooted by France and India.
The ISA Summit, expected to be attended by several heads of the states and governments, is likely to focus on concrete projects. On the same day, he will also visit Taj Mahal in Agra.
President Macron will also visit Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Modi, on 12 March.
He, along with Modi, will inaugurate a solar plant in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur.
With inputs from agencies
Published Date: Mar 10, 2018 14:35 PM | Updated Date: Mar 10, 2018 14:53 PM
Highlights
Defence cooperation between India and France has reached new significance: Macron
"India and France have decided to work together to deal with threats of terrorism and radicalisation," said French president Emmanuel Macron. "Defence cooperation between the two countries now has a new significance," he added.
We are implementing joint strategic vision for Indian Ocean: Narendra Modi
"Our ties when it comes to defence cooperation are deep. There are many war drills conducted between the armies of our two nations," said Narendra Modi.
"In the future, Indian Ocean will play a crucial role in peace and stability, whether it is about environment or freedom of navigation," said the prime minister.
"This is why we are implementing a joint strategic vision for the Indian Ocean today," he said. "The most important are our people-to-people ties," he added.
'Liberty, equality and fraternity' present in Indian Constitution too: Modi
"This is not just a meeting of two leaders but a meeting of common ideologies of two nations. 'Liberty, equality and fraternity' is not just in France but also present in the Indian Constitution," Modi said.
"Our strategic partnership is around 20 years old. Today, if two nations can face global challenges, they are India and France," said the prime minister.
"In 2015, when the International Solar Alliance was launched, it was done in the presence of the French president," he said.
Macron says he wants 'more and more Indian citizens coming to France'
"I aim to have more and more Indian citizens coming to France studying, becoming a partner, creating start-ups and I want my country to be your best partner in Europe," The Indian Express quoted Macron as saying.
Rahul Gandhi will not discuss Rafale deal during his meeting with Macron
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet French president Emmanuel Macron during his four-day India visit.
According to sources, the meeting is slated for Sunday after Rahul returns from his two-nation visit to Thailand and Singapore that is part of his overseas Indians outreach plan.
The Congress, which has launched a tirade against the government over the Rafale deal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck during his visit to France in April 2015, however, said that the issue would not be raised during the meeting.
Click here to read the full PTI report.
Macron meets Sushma Swaraj
India, France have historic relationship: Macron
14:31 (IST)
Indo-French club launched in Varanasi
A group of local youths and some French nationals have formed a club to work towards improving man-to-man contact between the people of the two countries.
The 'Indo-French Friends Club' was launched at Assi Ghat on Thursday.
"The idea of getting the nationals of both the countries together for improving personal contact just took shape and we gave it the form of Indo-French Friends Club," the convenor and founder of the club, Uttam Ojha, told PTI.
Ojha said Varanasi is a place where nationals of several countries stay for long durations to understand the old city.
"Same is the case with the French nationals who frequent the city for their spiritual pursuits. We have come together to have a common platform with them to share our history, culture, arts and food," Ojha said. — PTI
14:15 (IST)
Defence cooperation between India and France has reached new significance: Macron
"India and France have decided to work together to deal with threats of terrorism and radicalisation," said French president Emmanuel Macron. "Defence cooperation between the two countries now has a new significance," he added.
14:00 (IST)
India, France sign agreement on protection of classified information: Hindustan Times
The HT report also said that agreements on security and nuclear energy were also part of the 14 agreements signed.
13:51 (IST)
We welcome investments from France under Make in India: Modi
13:39 (IST)
We are committed to the international solar alliance: Modi
"India and France have always had good ties with African nations, which gives us another opportunity to come closer," Modi said.
"For the future of planet earth, we are committed to the international solar alliance," Modi said. "I am sure you (Macron) will experience the wisdom of India in Varanasi. In the next two days, President Macron and I will continue to discuss various ideas and issues."
13:37 (IST)
We are implementing joint strategic vision for Indian Ocean: Narendra Modi
"Our ties when it comes to defence cooperation are deep. There are many war drills conducted between the armies of our two nations," said Narendra Modi.
"In the future, Indian Ocean will play a crucial role in peace and stability, whether it is about environment or freedom of navigation," said the prime minister.
"This is why we are implementing a joint strategic vision for the Indian Ocean today," he said. "The most important are our people-to-people ties," he added.
13:33 (IST)
'Liberty, equality and fraternity' present in Indian Constitution too: Modi
"This is not just a meeting of two leaders but a meeting of common ideologies of two nations. 'Liberty, equality and fraternity' is not just in France but also present in the Indian Constitution," Modi said.
"Our strategic partnership is around 20 years old. Today, if two nations can face global challenges, they are India and France," said the prime minister.
"In 2015, when the International Solar Alliance was launched, it was done in the presence of the French president," he said.
13:30 (IST)
India and France's spiritual connection is deep: Modi
"A few months back, you (President Macron) had welcomed with a warm heart. I am pleased to welcome you in India," Narendra Modi said.
"We are not just heads of two democratic states but we are also successors in lands of deep history. India and France's spiritual connection is old and deep," said Modi.
13:25 (IST)
India, France sign 14 agreements
12:26 (IST)
Macron says he wants 'more and more Indian citizens coming to France'
"I aim to have more and more Indian citizens coming to France studying, becoming a partner, creating start-ups and I want my country to be your best partner in Europe," The Indian Express quoted Macron as saying.
12:18 (IST)
Macron and Modi at Hyderabad House
12:04 (IST)
Macron to discuss defence cooperation with Modi during bilateral summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Macron will hold a bilateral summit in New Delhi on Saturday that will aim at further deepening the strategic partnership that the two countries share. Following the meeting, a number of agreements across multiple sectors are expected to be signed.
Briefing the media in New Delhi on Friday, K Nagaraj Naidu, Joint Secretary (Europe West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said that though civil nuclear, space and defence cooperation have been the tripod of the India-France partnership, "in recent years, we have seen greater convergence in new areas, particularly maritime security, counter-terrorism and renewable energy".
11:47 (IST)
President Ram Nath Kovind to host dinner for heads of 24 nations
Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to host a dinner on Saturday evening for leaders of 24 nations who will attend the International Solar Alliance conference, including French President Macron, according to NDTV.
11:44 (IST)
Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi meet at Hyderabad House in New Delhi
11:03 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi will not discuss Rafale deal during his meeting with Macron
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet French president Emmanuel Macron during his four-day India visit.
According to sources, the meeting is slated for Sunday after Rahul returns from his two-nation visit to Thailand and Singapore that is part of his overseas Indians outreach plan.
The Congress, which has launched a tirade against the government over the Rafale deal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck during his visit to France in April 2015, however, said that the issue would not be raised during the meeting.
Click here to read the full PTI report.
10:48 (IST)
Macron meets Sushma Swaraj
10:41 (IST)
Maritime security, counter-terrorism high on agenda
Maritime security and counter-terrorism will be high on the agenda among a number of other bilateral issues when French President Emmanuel Macron comes on a four-day visit to India starting Friday during the course of which he will also co-chair the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Macron will hold a bilateral summit in New Delhi on Saturday that will aim at further deepening the strategic partnership that the two countries share. Following the meeting, a number of agreements across multiple sectors are expected to be signed.
Click here to read the full IANS report.
10:34 (IST)
Macron, his wife pay tribute to Gandhi at Rajghat
10:33 (IST)
India, France have historic relationship: Macron
10:15 (IST)
Macron, his wife with Prime Minister Modi and President Kovind
10:14 (IST)
Macron inspects guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan