Narendra Modi meets French minister, hopes for success of climate summit

New Delhi, Nov 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and said he hoped for an equitable and positive outcome at the UN climate change summit in Paris later this month.

Modi also conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attacks in Paris last week.

"The prime minister strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Paris and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the attacks," a Prime Minister's Office release said.

As many as 129 people were killed and 350 others injured in the terror attacks in Paris on November 13.

During the meeting, Modi re-affirmed "the importance that India attached to strategic partnership with France".

He said the UN climate change summit should also provide for enhanced technological, financial and capacity-building support to developing and small countries to enable them to take even more ambitious action to save climate.

"The Prime Minister expressed the hope for a positive outcome from the forthcoming COP 21 summit that was equitable, balanced and guided by the principles and provisions of the UNFCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities," the release said.

Modi said he looked forward to the launch of International Solar Alliance along with French President Francois Hollande and other leaders during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The release said Fabius appreciated the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) declared by India and said it would play an important role in the success of the COP 21 Summit.

IANS