Watch: French President Emmanuel Macron with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar at Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah

The French President is in India as the chief guest of the Republic Day parade. India and France also adopted a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the visiting French President on Thursday and Friday.

Defence and security has been one of the key pillars of the strategic partnership between India and France established on Jan 26, 1998. This year’s Republic Day celebrations also cap the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Indo-French strategic partnership forged during then French President Jacques Chirac’s visit, also as Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

The year, 2026, was declared as the year of India-France innovation with the two sides announcing a Young Professionals scheme for people between 18 to 35 years of age.

Macron began his two-day trip to India with a visit to Jaipur Thursday, where he visited the Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. Modi accompanied Macron during the roadshow between Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal.

The French president is the sixth French leader to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path Friday, the most by any country, a testament to the breadth and depth of bilateral ties that encompass key strategic areas.

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