What To Expect From PM Modi’s Visit To France

With a focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Paris visit next week, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Thursday held wide-ranging talks with French President's diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne.

In a rare honour, PM Modi has been invited as the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade (France's National Day) celebrations on July 14.

"E Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, held in-depth talks with NSA Ajit Doval to prepare for PM Narendra Modi's visit to France next week. Defence, energy, space, new technologies & more: we're working on an ambitious agenda for the India-France strategic partnership!", tweeted French Embassy in India.

Speaking to ANI, Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain said, "Well, it's going to be a very important visit. India is the guest of honour on our Bastille Day...our National Day. Every year we have a guest of honour but this year, it is very special that's the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between France and India and we wanted to have Indian troops in the parade and also Indian Rafales in the sky."

Let's take a closer look at what Prime Minister Modi will do in France.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be accompanied by a business delegation of top CEOs during his trip to France. He will address the Indian diaspora at La Seine Musicale, a performing arts center located on Île Seguin island in the Seine River.

The prime minister is set to hold extensive talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during the visit. The defence and security cooperation between India and France have been on a major upswing since New Delhi's procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.

French defence major Safran is also set to jointly develop an engine with India's relevant state-run defence manufacturers for military aircraft.

Modi's trip to Paris will be special as it will be the first Bastille Day visit by a foreign leader in Macron's current term, they said.

It is understood that Bonne apprised Doval about the current security scenario in Paris. Various French cities witnessed violent protests after police shot and killed a teenager near Paris last week.

A tri-services contingent from India has already left for Paris to participate in the Bastille Day parade. Three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will also take part in the flypast over the Champs Elysees on the occasion along with French jets. France has been a key partner for India in a range of sectors including defence, space and nuclear technology.

Modi-Macron will also deliberate on the field of technology, the fight against climate change, global issues, and people-to-people exchanges among others.