India-France ties strong, look forward to roadmap for next 25 years: PM Modi

“As far as 25 years of the strategic partnership is concerned, I feel we are now at a India-France ties strong, look forward to roadmap for next 25 years: PM turning point. If we look at the post-pandemic global order and the shape that it is taking, I think the positive experience of our strategic partnership is an important step ahead. So, we look forward to working on a roadmap for the next 25 years of the strategic partnership, which I think is very important for the relationship. The relationship is in excellent shape. It is strong, trusted, consistent. It has been steady and resilient in the darkest storms,” he said in an interview to French newspaper Les Echos.

Modi, who was received by French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne at the airport on Thursday, is on a two-day visit, during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and join him for the Bastille Day celebrations as the guest of honour. “Landed in Paris. Looking forward to boosting India-France cooperation during this visit,” he tweeted.

“PM @narendramodi alights at the Paris airport. Accorded a ceremonial welcome. In a special gesture, PM @Elisabeth_Borne received him at the airport. PM’s intensive programme in Paris includes participation in the Bastille Day celebrations & a slew of engagements with the French leadership, Indian diaspora, CEOs and prominent personalities,” Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

Modi was hosted by Macron for a private dinner at the Elysee Palace. He also met PM Borne later in the day.

“I have worked closely with the French leadership, especially since President Macron was elected, to develop this partnership, not just in the bilateral framework, but for the global good… I feel that President Macron’s thinking really matches ours. And so we are naturally compatible to work together. And for this, I have the greatest gratitude towards him. Our partnership is vital for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We see France as one of our foremost global partners,” Modi told Les Echos.

“Defence cooperation has progressed rapidly. We have started a genuine industrial partnership, including on co-design and co-development, not just for ourselves but also for other countries,” he said.

“We are now working together on initiatives on biodiversity, elimination of single use plastic, disaster resilient infrastructure and conserving ocean resources. Our cooperation has become especially strong in the United Nations, whether it is in reforming the UN institutions, fighting climate change or combating terrorism,” he said.

On being invited for the Bastille Day parade, Modi said: “On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to France, to its government and personally to President Macron for inviting India to 14th July National Day celebrations as guest of honour. I feel grateful to visit France on this occasion. This is a special year as it marks the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership. It is an honour for India and a tribute to India-France friendship.”

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended the Bastille Day celebrations in 2009, when he was invited by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ahead of his departure, Modi expressed confidence that his visit would provide a new impetus to the bilateral strategic partnership.

“I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years,” he said, adding “We also work together on regional and global issues.”

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

Noting that this year marks the 25th anniversary of India-France strategic partnership, Modi said that rooted in deep trust and commitment, the two countries cooperate closely across various domains, including defence, space, civil nuclear, blue economy, trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people ties.

“I also look forward to my interactions with the French leadership, including Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister of France, Gerard Larcher, President of the Senate, and Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly,” Modi said.

Modi will also meet the Indian community, leading CEOs from both countries as well as prominent French personalities.

On India-France ties, Modi told the French newspaper, “It has been bold and ambitious in looking for opportunities. The level of mutual trust and confidence we share is unmatched. It stems from shared values and vision. We share a strong sense of strategic autonomy. Both have deep commitment to international law. We both seek a multipolar world. Both of us carry an unwavering faith in multilateralism. Our partnership in sensitive areas like space and defence go back to five decades and more. It was a phase when the west did not have a friendly disposition towards India. So, it is not a surprise that France was the first western country with which we declared a strategic partnership. That was a difficult time for the world, including for India. Since then our relationship has transformed into a partnership that is important not just for our two countries, but is of great geopolitical consequence.”

The two sides are expected to come up with a 25-year vision statement for India-France bilateral ties and ambitious outcomes are expected on defence, space, geo-strategy, infrastructure, energy, climate action, museology, student mobility, people to people, sports, culture. Separate joint statements are expected on Indo-Pacific, as well as on the strategic pillar.

Macron is expected to host a state banquet at the Louvre Museum on Friday, when, according to sources, he may also take Modi on a tour of the museum.