France Is Important Partner In Make in India Initiative: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that France is an important partner in Make in India and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives.

Addressing a joint press meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi said, "Defence ties have always been the basic foundation of our relations. This is a symbol of the deep trust between the two nations. France is an important partner in Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat...Be it submarines or Indian Naval ships, together we want to fulfill not just ours but also the requirements of other friendly countries..."

He noted that the two countries have completed 25 years of strategic partnership. "We are making a roadmap for the next 25 years on the basis of the strong foundation of the previous 25 years. Bold and ambitious goals are being set for this. People of India have taken the resolve to make ourselves a developed nation. In this journey, we see France as a natural partner," he said.

The Indian Prime Minister also welcomed the long-term agreement between Indian Oil and France's Total company to export Liquefied natural gas (LNG). "It will help in achieving our target of clean energy transition," he stated.

Talking about the successful launch of Chandrayaan 3, PM Modi said that entire India is "excited" about its moon mission. "This is a major achievement of our scientists. In the arena of Space, India and France have had an old and deep cooperation. There have been new agreements between our Space agencies...We can enhance our cooperation in areas like Space-based Maritime Domain Awareness," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in France for a two-day official visit, joined President Emmanuel Macron for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour.

The French National Day, or Bastille Day, occupies a special place in the French consciousness as it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution in 1789. The Bastille Day parade is the highlight of the celebrations.

A 269-member Indian tri-services contingent participated in the parade. Three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) also joined the flypast on the occasion along with French jets.