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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day packed visit to France, the latest Western power to court the world’s largest democracy and its booming economy.
The visit on July 13 and 14 comes close on the heels of PM Modi’s successful trip to US, which was hailed by both the sides for further deepening the growing bond between the two democracies.
In France, PM Modi is expected to hold extensive talks with President Emmanuel Macron, ink big-ticket defence projects and attend the Bastille Day celebrations as a guest of honour.
Here are 10 points about PM Modi’s upcoming visit to France …
Red carpet welcome: President Macron will accord a red carpet welcome to Modi, just weeks after the Prime Minister was given the rare honour of a White House state dinner in Washington.
Dinner at Louvre: Macron will host a state banquet at the iconic Louvre museum in honour of the Prime Minister. Macron’s office said that over 200 guests will join the two leaders on France’s national holiday for the dinner at the world’s biggest museum. Macron will also host PM Modi for a private dinner
Bastille Day military parade: This will be one of the highlights of PM Modi’s trip. PM Modi will attend the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 14 as the guest of honour. The visit, alongside Indian troops joining the annual parade, marks “a new phase in the strategic partnership between France and India”, Macron’s office said.
Sources have said that it is not common for foreign leaders to be invited as a guest of honour on the Bastille Day and the last time it was done was in 2017 when the then US President was invited.
India at Bastille Day parade: A 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian armed forces will participate in the parade alongside French forces. 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.
Key defence deals: According to government sources, India is finalising the ground work for firming up procurement of 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France. The deals are likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit.
Co-developing fighter jet engines: Besides the big-ticket deals for Navy, India is also at an advanced stage of discussions with French defence major Safran for co-developing engines for fifth-generation fighter and Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH) being developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Notably, a similar deal was inked during PM Modi’s US visit between General Electric and HAL.
Wide-ranging talks: PM Modi will hold extensive deliberations with Macron in the areas of defence, space, geostrategic planning, infrastructure, energy, climate action, museology, student mobility, interpersonal relations, sports, and culture, among others.
Other high-level meetings: PM Modi is also scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of France as well as the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly of France. He will separately interact with the Indian diaspora in France, CEOs of Indian and French companies, and prominent French personalities.
A landmark visit: The visit also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister’s visit will provide an opportunity to chart the course of the partnership for the future across diverse sectors such as strategic, cultural, scientific, academic and economic cooperation.
Eye on China: India’s deepening defence ties with Western powers such as US and France comes amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, turther strategic and economic tie-ups are expected in Paris, which is also seeking to broaden its engagement in Asia to counter China.
(With inputs from agencies)
The visit on July 13 and 14 comes close on the heels of PM Modi’s successful trip to US, which was hailed by both the sides for further deepening the growing bond between the two democracies.
In France, PM Modi is expected to hold extensive talks with President Emmanuel Macron, ink big-ticket defence projects and attend the Bastille Day celebrations as a guest of honour.
Here are 10 points about PM Modi’s upcoming visit to France …
Red carpet welcome: President Macron will accord a red carpet welcome to Modi, just weeks after the Prime Minister was given the rare honour of a White House state dinner in Washington.
Dinner at Louvre: Macron will host a state banquet at the iconic Louvre museum in honour of the Prime Minister. Macron’s office said that over 200 guests will join the two leaders on France’s national holiday for the dinner at the world’s biggest museum. Macron will also host PM Modi for a private dinner
Bastille Day military parade: This will be one of the highlights of PM Modi’s trip. PM Modi will attend the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 14 as the guest of honour. The visit, alongside Indian troops joining the annual parade, marks “a new phase in the strategic partnership between France and India”, Macron’s office said.
Sources have said that it is not common for foreign leaders to be invited as a guest of honour on the Bastille Day and the last time it was done was in 2017 when the then US President was invited.
India at Bastille Day parade: A 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian armed forces will participate in the parade alongside French forces. 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.
Key defence deals: According to government sources, India is finalising the ground work for firming up procurement of 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France. The deals are likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit.
Co-developing fighter jet engines: Besides the big-ticket deals for Navy, India is also at an advanced stage of discussions with French defence major Safran for co-developing engines for fifth-generation fighter and Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH) being developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Notably, a similar deal was inked during PM Modi’s US visit between General Electric and HAL.
Wide-ranging talks: PM Modi will hold extensive deliberations with Macron in the areas of defence, space, geostrategic planning, infrastructure, energy, climate action, museology, student mobility, interpersonal relations, sports, and culture, among others.
Other high-level meetings: PM Modi is also scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of France as well as the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly of France. He will separately interact with the Indian diaspora in France, CEOs of Indian and French companies, and prominent French personalities.
A landmark visit: The visit also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister’s visit will provide an opportunity to chart the course of the partnership for the future across diverse sectors such as strategic, cultural, scientific, academic and economic cooperation.
Eye on China: India’s deepening defence ties with Western powers such as US and France comes amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, turther strategic and economic tie-ups are expected in Paris, which is also seeking to broaden its engagement in Asia to counter China.
(With inputs from agencies)
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