India-France Partnership In Focus As Macron Joins Raj Shamani Podcast

French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined his views on India-France relations, education cooperation and global political shifts in a recent podcast conversation with content creator Raj Shamani.

The discussion, released during Macron's visit to India, explores the expanding partnership between New Delhi and Paris across sectors such as defence, technology, business and academic exchange. Macron arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to attend an artificial intelligence summit in Delhi during his trip.

In the podcast, Shamani asked Macron whether the growing engagement between India and France could serve as a model for international cooperation. Macron responded by pointing to the widening scope of collaboration between the two countries in recent years, including joint initiatives across strategic and economic sectors.

He also spoke about foreign policy priorities, stating that both India and France favour maintaining independence while building relations with major global powers. Macron said the two countries share a preference for balanced engagement with both the United States and China rather than aligning too closely with either.

The conversation also turned to education, with Macron encouraging Indian students to consider higher studies in France. He noted that several institutions offer programmes in English and highlighted the country's mix of established industries and a growing startup ecosystem.

The episode provides insight into how France views its partnership with India at a time when both nations are deepening cooperation in technology, innovation and diplomacy. Macron's engagements in Mumbai and Delhi are expected to focus on further strengthening these areas of collaboration during his visit.