Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. He will take part in a Knowledge Summit, which will be attended by more than 200 academicians from both sides.
Stepping up cooperation in the Indian Ocean region will be one of the top issues that will be discussed by Mr. Macron and Mr. Modi during delegation-level talks. Besides defence, cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy and space are the other pillars of the strategic partnership between India and France.
14 agreements signed
India and France signed 14 pacts in the strategic areas of security, nuclear energy, protection of classified information after extensive talks between Mr. Modi and Mr. Macron. It included an agreement on 'reciprocal logistical support' by the armed forces of both sides.
The agreements include education, environment, urban development and railways.
Mr. Macron, at a joint press briefing with Mr. Modi, said India and France have decided to work together to deal with threats of terrorism and radicalisation. Defence cooperation between the two countries now has a new significance, he said.
Both the leaders also talked about cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Macron made a joint press statement at Hyderabad House.
Mr. Modi: "We are not only leaders of two strong independent countries and two diverse democracies, we are also successors to two rich and capable heritages. The history of India and France's bilateral cooperation in defence, security, space is very long.
"Therefore, we have made two important agreements today, a pact to recognise each other's educational needs, and the other is our migration and mobility partnership. These two agreements will prepare the framework of closest relations between our countrymen, our youth.
"I agree to reciprocal logistics support agreement between our forces in the history of our close defence cooperation."
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi applaud as their foreign ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian and Sushma Swaraj exchange documents after the signing of a MoU, at Hyderabad house in New Delhi on March 10, 2018. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
Mr. Macron: "The purpose is to make India our first strategic partner in the region and I want you to make France your first strategic partner in Europe and in the West world." He stressed on the importance of stability in the Indian Ocean region, adding that France was with India for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
French and Indian companies signed contracts worth 13 billion euros ($16 billion) on Saturday, the French presidency said in a statement.
The deals include a contract for France's Safran to supply airline Spice Jet with engines, water system modernisation by Suez in the southern city of Davangere and a contract between industrial gas company Air Liquide and Sterlite, reports Reuters.
Emmanuel Macron, France President with Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands prior to the meeting at Hyderabad house in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
Mr. Macron talked about his personal rapport with Mr. Modi that was established after their meeting in Paris last year. “I think we have very good chemistry, our two great democracies have a historic relationship,“ he said.
Emmanuel Macron, France President and Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
The two sides will also sign an agreement on co-development of a full-fledged satellite constellation in the maritime domain.
Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted images from the morning meet.
“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,” Mr. Modi tweeted after receiving Mr. Macron at the airport.